Sam Greco

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Sam Greco
BornSalvatore Greco
(1967-05-03) 3 May 1967 (age 56)
Victoria, Australia
Other namesSlam 'em
Sam The Man
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight103 kg (227 lb; 16.2 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
StyleKarate Kickboxing
TeamTeam Greco
Rank  4th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate
Years active1988–2005
Kickboxing record
Total32
Wins19
By knockout11
Losses9
By knockout7
Draws2
No contests2
Mixed martial arts record
Total5
Wins3
By knockout2
By submission1
Losses1
By decision1
Draws1
Other information
OccupationRestaurant owner, trainer, actor
Websitewww.samgreco.com.au
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: 22 January 2010

Salvatore "Sam" Greco (born 3 May 1967) is an Australian retired

Branko Cikatic, Ernesto Hoost, Mike Bernardo, Stefan Leko, and Ray Sefo, as well as MMA victories over Heath Herring and Shungo Oyama
.

Biography and career

Salvatore Greco was born on 3 May 1967, in

Juventus.[1]

Soccer

Sam Greco
Personal information
Full name Salvatore Greco
Date of birth (1967-03-05) 5 March 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)
Midfielder
Youth career
1975–1983
Brunswick United Juventus[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984
Brunswick United Juventus
 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 February 2020

Greco joined Juventus (later

Brunswick United Juventus) at the age of six, playing as a junior for nine years where in 1983 he would win the club's best-and-fairest for their under-sixteen squad.[3] Prior to the 1984 National Soccer League season, Greco signed a one-year semi-professional contract with the senior squad, who had just been promoted from the Victorian State Premier League to the former national league
, making him the club's youngest player to sign for the senior squad.

Greco made his national debut in the fifth round of the season on 1 April 1984, two days before his seventeenth birthday. Greco started and played the whole home match against Footscray JUST at Gillon oval that finished in a 0–2 loss.[4] At the conclusion of the season and after ten years playing for his local club, Greco decided to focus solely on karate and discontinued his soccer career at the age of seventeen.[5]

Karate

Greco started training in Kyokushin karate at the age of 11 and commenced tournament fighting at the age of 18 establishing himself as one of Australia's best Kyokushin fighters in the late 1980s and early 1990s winning the heavyweight division of the Australian championships five times in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.[6][7][8][5] In 1988, he fought in the heavyweight division of the 1st Commonwealth Karate Championships held in Sydney placing 3rd with English champion Michael Thompson winning.[7] In 1991, he competed in the 5th World Open Tournament in Japan losing to Michael Thompson in the first round on decision due to accidentally punching him in the face. In 1992, he competed in the heavyweight division of the Oyama Cup Singapore International Open in Singapore placing 3rd with Papua New Guinean Walter Schnaubelt winning.[7]

After the Singapore tournament in October 1992, Sam left Kyokushin fighting as an amateur to join Seidokaikan karate to become a professional karate fighter.[5] Fellow Kyokushin champion Andy Hug had recently joined Seidokaikan and won the 2nd Karate World Cup in October and then in 1993 Michael Thompson also joined Seidokaikan. In June 1993, Sam had his first karate fight at the K-1 Sanctuary III a kickboxing tournament promoted by Seidokaikan karate founder Kazuyoshi Ishii. Sam fought Keisuke Nakagawa who had placed 6th in the 2nd Karate World Cup. In October 1993, Sam competed in the 3rd Karate World Cup defeating Minoru Fujita to make the quarter finals to fight Toshiyuki Atokawa with the judges decision a draw after the first round, and again in the second round, with the fight awarded to Toshiyuki Atokawa on weight difference, who went on to place 3rd. In October 1994, Sam competed in the 4th Karate World Cup making the final after winning four fights. In the final he fought Michael Thompson winning in the first round with a left low kick followed by a straight right body shot to become the Karate World Cup Champion.

K-1

Sam had his K-1 debut in 1995 at K-1 Hercules. Following year he appeared in his first K-1 World Grand Prix tournament where he suffered his first loss in semifinals against Musashi.

After retiring in 2005 from professional competition, Sam Greco worked as trainer for other fighters, including Bob Sapp.

Professional wrestling

Greco was originally signed to

Taiyo Kea, all while wearing his own mask and playing a Dos Caras body double named "Sam Grecaras". They won, with Greco receiving good reviews in the process.[11]

He wrestled again in December 2003, appearing in AJPW to team up with

RO&D. His third and last venture in professional wrestling would be two years later, as part of the briefly revived Wrestle-1 concept. This time he formed a team with fellow K-1 fighter Jan Nortje against Giant Bernard and The Predator, who defeated them when Bernard pinned Nortje.[12]

Acting career

In 1995 Greco had a small part as an enforcer in the Richard Norton movie

Two Fists One Heart which was shot in Western Australia
. He has also appeared occasionally in movies as a fight consultant and martial arts advisor.

He had a small part in the fourth episode of the Australian mini-series Underbelly, playing nightclub bouncer Bruno Bolotzi. The episode was first broadcast in February 2008.

He had a small part in an episode of the Australian comedy Pizza, playing the Roman soldier Glutious Maximus. He made another appearance for Pizza this time in a two-part episode Holiday Pizza, playing Pauly's Italian cousin Luigi. The last appearance he made in Pizza was in the Cracker Pizza episode, playing Crackerus in the last season of the series. He also had a part in the Australian comedy Swift and Shift Couriers as Louie "Luigi" Marietti. Both Pizza and Swift and Shift Couriers were created by Greco's good friend Paul Fenech.

He played the Masked Wrestler Zarkos in Scooby-Doo. In the movie Zarkos appears as one of N'Goo Tuana's henchmen, but later he sneaks up on Daphne and captures her and steals the Daemon Ritus from her. Later in the movie he tries to sneak up on Daphne and capture her again but instead they end up fighting; near the end of the fight, he grabs Daphne and throws her onto his back and puts her in a hold but she escapes and defeats him.

Personal life

On 23 March 2018, Greco suffered a heart attack prior to and during his fighter Jimmy Crute competing in the Hex Fight Series and had triple bypass surgery.[14][15]

Titles and accomplishments

  • 1999 K-1 World Grand Prix 3rd Place
  • 1999 W.A.K.O. Pro World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Champion
  • 1995 The Best of the Best Tournament Champion
  • 1994 W.K.A. World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Heavyweight Champion
  • 1994 Seidokaikan Karate World Cup Champion
  • 5 time Australian Kyokushin Karate Heavyweight Champion

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
19 Wins (11 (T)KO's, 8 decisions), 9 Losses, 2 Draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2003-10-11 Loss
Peter Graham
K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
Osaka, Japan
 TKO (Leg injury) 2 0:30
Fails to qualify for K-1 Grand Prix '03 final.
2000-04-23 Loss Netherlands Ernesto Hoost
K-1 The Millennium
Osaka, Japan
 TKO (corner stoppage) 3 3:00
1999-12-05 Loss Croatia Mirko Cro Cop K-1 Grand Prix '99 final round semi-finals
Tokyo, Japan
 TKO (left low kick/two knockdowns) 2 2:50
1999-12-05 Win New Zealand Ray Sefo K-1 Grand Prix '99 final round quarter-finals
Tokyo, Japan
 Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
1999-10-05 Win Germany Stefan Leko
K-1 World Grand Prix '99 opening round
Osaka, Japan
 Decision (majority) 3 2:35
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '99 final.
1999-07-18 Loss Netherlands Peter Aerts
K-1 Dream '99
Nagoya, Japan
 KO (right high kick) 2 1:38
1999-06-20 Win South Africa Mike Bernardo
K-1 Braves '99
Fukuoka, Japan
 Decision (unanimous) 5 3:00
Wins vacant W.A.K.O. Pro World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Title.
1999-03-22 NC Morocco Samir Benazzouz
K-1 The Challenge '99
Tokyo, Japan
 No contest (Greco right leg injury) 2 3:00
1998-12-13 Loss Switzerland Andy Hug
K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round
semi-finals
Tokyo, Japan
 Decision (majority) 3 3:00
1998-12-13 Win Netherlands Ernesto Hoost
K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round
quarter-finals
Tokyo, Japan
 TKO (corner stoppage/cut) 2 3:00
1998-09-27 Win England Matt Skelton
K-1 World Grand Prix '98 opening round
Osaka, Japan
 Decision (unanimous) 5 3:00
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '98 final.
1998-05-24 Win South Africa Carl Bernardo Crash at the Crown
Melbourne, Australia
 TKO 5
1998-07-18 Loss France Jérôme Le Banner
K-1 Dream '98
Nagoya, Japan
 KO (punch) 2 2:07
1997-11-09 Loss Brazil Francisco Filho K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final quarter final
Tokyo, Japan
 KO (right hook) 1 0:15
1997-09-07 Win United States Jean-Claude Leuyer
K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st round
Osaka, Japan
 KO (right hook) 2 1:55
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '97 final.
1997-07-20 Win Croatia Branko Cikatić
K-1 Dream '97
Nagoya, Japan
 KO (right hooks) 1 2:58
1997-04-29 Draw Switzerland Andy Hug
K-1 Braves '97
Fukuoka, Japan
 Decision draw 5 3:00
1996-12-08 Draw France Jérôme Le Banner
K-1 Hercules '96
Nagoya, Japan
 Decision draw 5 3:00
1996-10-18 Win United States Gerry Harris
K-1 Star Wars '96
Yokohama, Japan
 TKO 1 2:38
1996-09-01 NC Japan Musashi
K-1 Revenge '96
Osaka, Japan
 No contest 3 0:22
1996-05-06 Loss Japan Musashi K-1 Grand Prix '96 quarter-finals
Yokohama, Japan
 TKO (doctor stoppage/broken toe) 1 3:00
1996-03-10 Win Suriname Perry Telgt
K-1 Grand Prix '96 Opening Battle
Yokohama, Japan
 Decision (unanimous) 5 3:00
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '96 final.
1995-12-09 Win South Africa Duane Van Der Merwe
K-1 Hercules
Nagoya, Japan
 KO (kick) 1 1:24
1995-10-22 Win Australia Stan Longinidis The Best of the Best Tournament, Final
Melbourne, Australia
 Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
Wins The Best of the Best Tournament.
1995-10-22 Win Australia Ben Hamilton The Best of the Best Tournament, semi-finals
Melbourne, Australia
 Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
1995-10-22 Win Australia Sam Sweet The Best of the Best Tournament, quarter-finals
Melbourne, Australia
 KO 1
1995-09-03 Loss Netherlands Peter Aerts
K-1 Revenge II
Yokohama, Japan
 Decision (unanimous) 5 3:00
1995-03-03 Win Russia Vjatcheslav Soukhanov
K-1 Grand Prix '95 Opening Battle
Tokyo, Japan
 KO (punch) 3 1:33
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '95 Final - would be unable to participate due to injury.
1994-12-10 Win Japan Masaaki Satake
K-1 Legend
Nagoya, Japan
 KO (right punch) 2 1:27
Wins Satake's W.K.A. World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Heavyweight title.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
5 matches 3 wins 1 loss
By knockout 2 0
By submission 1 0
By decision 0 1
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–1–1 Shungo Oyama KO (knees and punches) Hero's 3 9 July 2005 1 2:37 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–1–1 Heath Herring TKO (knee injury) Hero's 1 26 March 2005 1 2:41
Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
Loss 1–1–1 Lyoto Machida Decision (split)
K-1 MMA ROMANEX
 22 May 2004 3 5:00
Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
Win 1–0–1 Stefan Gamlin Submission (rear-naked choke)
K-1 Beast 2004 in Niigata
 14 March 2004 1 0:25 Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Draw 0–0–1 Masaaki Satake Draw Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 31 December 2001 3 5:00
Saitama, Saitama
, Japan

See also

References

  1. ^ "Master of karate and friendship for everyone | Latrobe Valley Express". www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016.
  2. Juventus
    prior to 1980
  3. user-generated source
    ]
  4. ^ "1984 National Soccer League results".
  5. ^ a b c Boyle, Jarrod (8 May 2014). "Sam Greco: Experience is worth more than anything". International Kickboxer. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
  6. ISSN 0818-9595
    . Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. ^
    ISSN 0818-9595
    . Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Tony Bowden: The Shihan who never gave up". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  9. ^ "WCW Thunder". p.W.w. Everything Wrestling. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  10. ^ Panichi, James. "Slam'em Sam! The former kickboxing champ is taking his killer glance to Atlanta". Australian Sports Entertainment. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  11. ^ Wilson, Kevin. "All Japan Wrestle-1". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  12. ^ Wilson, Kevin. "World-1 Grand Prix". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Under the Gun (1995)". IMDb.
  14. ^ Mitchell, Neil (4 April 2018). "Former kickboxing champ "shaken" by his experience of a heart attack". 3AW. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  15. ^ Sam Greco (13 August 2019). "Open Heart Triple Bypass Surgery". Sam Greco Official page. Retrieved 19 October 2019 – via Facebook.

Further reading

  • "Sam Greco Kyokushin Warrior". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. Vol. 8, no. 1. February–March 1994.
    ISSN 0818-9595
    .

External links
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