Derek Panza

3x WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT KICKBOXING CHAMPION

I.S.K.A. (International Sport Kickboxing Association) WORLD CHAMPION

I.K.F. (International Kickboxing Federation) WORLD RATED #1

3-1 in World Combat League Fights

UNDEFEATED PROFESSIONAL BOXER, 7 – 0, 4 K.O.’S

Martial Arts History

1979 – Age 8 - Began Martial Arts Training

1985 – Age 14 - Received Black Belt in Shotokan Karate

1986 – Age 15 - Won First Place in kumite at National Junior Karate Championships

1990 – Age 19 – Became Number One Nationally Ranked Professional Super Heavyweight Sport Karate Fighter – At that time the youngest fighter to accomplish that in the weight class

1992 – Age 21 – Fought as a member of the United States Karate Team and Paul Mitchell Sport Karate Team

1993 – Age 22 – Won the New York Metropolitan Boxing Championships in the Super heavyweight division

1994 – Age 23 – Made Professional Kickboxing Debut – Wins in 53 seconds by knockout and knocks out next two professional opponents in the first round

1995 – Received Top 10 Kickboxing World Ranking by knocking out Larry “Thunderfoot” Cureton in the first round.

1996 – Won professional boxing debut at Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City.

1997 – Won his first World Kickboxing Championship by Knocking out UFC Legend Pat Smith

2001 – Captured the Prestigious ISKA World Heavyweight Kickboxing Championship by 12 round Unanimous Decision over England’s Simon Dore.

2005 – Fought in first World Combat League, produced by martial arts legend Chuck Norris.

Full Contact Fighting Career Records

• Undefeated as a professional boxer 7-0

• 3x World Champion Kickboxer and Undefeated in Full Contact Rules Kickboxing 19-0

• 3wins 1loss in World Combat League Fights – Low Kicks and knee strikes allowed

Most Notable Wins

• KO of UFC Veteran Larry Cureton

• KO of UFC Veteran Dwayne Casom

• KO of UFC and K-1 Veteran Pat Smith

• KO of K-1 Veteran Dennis Lane

• Unanimous Win Over K-1 Veteran Kelly Leo

• Unanimous Win over Sabaki Challenge Champion Clarence Thatch

• Unanimous Win over Simon Dore for ISKA World Championship

Teaching Experience

1985 – Earned the rank of assistant martial arts instructor at the age of 14.

1987 – Was made into a full martial arts instructor by the age of 17. Derek had already been competing in the 18 and up / men’s Black Belt fighting division for over three years.

1993 – Derek became a head instructor running not just the classes but re-writing, installing, and overseeing the curriculum.

1999 – Opened the first Panza Mixed Martial Arts in Greenvale, New York.

Derek has trained fighters to World Championships including World Kickboxing Champion Tim Lane. Derek has also prepared professional fighters for their matches in UFC and Pride Fighting Championships including Lion’s Den standouts Guy Mezger and Pete Williams.

Derek trained IFL Champion Deividas Taurosevicius, currently 10-2 in Professional MMA fights including 3 – 0 in the IFL.

Other Teaching and Training Facts

• Derek trained amateur Kickboxer John Mesch, 51 years old at the time, to victory over a 26 year old opponent.

• Derek trained Stuttering John Melendez, 175 lbs, Of the Howard Stern Show to victory against K-Rock DJ Crazzie Cabbie, 260 lbs, in their celebrity boxing match.

• Derek trained Nicole Bass “the world’s largest female bodybuilder” to fight Joey Buttafuoco for the Howard Stern Show, Joey backed out of the fight.

• Derek has trained NFL pro bowler and NY Jet John Abraham, NY Jet Jason Fabini, and Lacross Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Polanco. Panza Mixed Martial Arts has become an off season place to train for other NY Jets including line backer Victor Hobson and safety Eric Colman.

Other Accomplishments

• Derek is quoted on the cover of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Kickboxing.

• Derek wrote a monthly column called “Puncher’s Corner” in Full Contact Fighter Magazine for six years. This was an instructional column including basic striking technique, advanced technique, fight strategy, and training methods.

• Derek has been featured in Black Belt Magazine, Fight Sport Magazine, Ultimate Fighter Magazine, Full Contact Fighter Magazine, Axle Magazine, Met Rx Magazine.

• Derek has made several TV appearances on The Howard Stern Show, ESPN2, Martial Arts World, and has had fights featured on MSG, ESPN2, and VS Network.

• 2005 - Derek was awarded the rank of 6th degree black belt in Freestyle Martial Arts under UFC Champion Guy Mezger and World Kickboxing Champion Billy Jackson (the only man to defeat Benny “the jet” Uriquidez)

• 2006 – Derek was appointed Head Coach for the World Combat League Team “The New York Clash”

• 2007 – Derek is featured in national commercial for Met Rx Sports Nutrition