Biography and career
Mike Zambidis started training in martial arts before he was nine years old with his brother Spiros Zambidis and his best friend Lazaros Filipas. He has trained in Shotokan, Kickboxing, Boxing and Muay Thai.[3] He started competing professionally in 2000, scoring a string of victories over notable opponents. So far, the majority of his wins have been knock-outs. He has been technically knocked out twice himself early in his career, but since 2002, his only technical knock-out defeat was in 2008 against Andy Souwer after a controversial extra round combat.Zambidis has defeated notable kickboxer Jenk Behic twice, Gurkan Ozkan twice, Wanlop Sosathopan, Bakari Tounkara, Matteo Sciacca, Petr Polak. In 2002, he knocked out the strong and experienced[4][5] Dutch-Morrocan Hassan Kassrioui.
In 2003, promoter Tarik Solak arranged Zambidis' debut fight in Japan against 2002 World K-1 Max Champion Albert Kraus, whom he knocked out in the 2nd round. In April 2005, Zambidis knocked out with a right hook the popular Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, in front of thousands of the Japanese kickboxer's fans. Zambidis' only weakness seems to be receiving low kicks, as was seen in his 2006 defeat by Japanese Yoshihiro Sato, who, despite getting hurt by Zambidis' punches, managed enough "kicks to rack up enough points to secure a unanimous decision something that was disputed by many viewers who said that the Japanese referees graduated in benefit of Sato because he was Japanese just like them"[6] Zambidis is reputed to be one of the best pound for pound fighters in the kickboxing world, being a 4 time national champion in kickboxing as well as holding several international titles.
In addition to his many outstanding fights, the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 match on October the 3rd, 2010 against Chahid Oulad El Hadj was notable as being not only one of the most exciting of his career but as stated by ring side commentators "Sugar" Ray Sefo and Michael "The Voice" Schiavello one by which a standard was set for other K-1 fights.However he didnt make it to the final as he lost to Giorgio Petrosyan after decision where the knock down Zambidis did to Petrosyan was not counted by the judges for an unknown reason having as a result Petrosyan's victory[7]
Titles
- 2010 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
- 2009 World PROFI European Champion (1st title defence)
- 2008 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Super Welterweight World Champion (2nd title defence)
- 2008 A-1 World Combat Middleweight World Champion
- 2006 "King of the Ring" Super Welterweight European Champion
- 2005 W.K.B.F. Super Welterweight World Champion
- 2005 "King of the Ring" Super Welterweight World Champion (1st title defence)
- 2005 World PROFI European Champion
- 2004 A-1 World Combat Cup Champion
- 2003 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Super Welterweight World Champion
- 2002 K-1 World Max Oceania Champion
- 2002 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Thai Boxing Tournament Champion
- 2000 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion
- 1998 World PROFI Europe Champion
- 1997 I.S.K.A. Balkan Champion
- 1996/1998/1999/2000 Greek Boxing Champion
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