Remy Bonjasky

Remy Kenneth Bonjasky (born January 10, 1976) is a Surinamese-Dutch former kickboxer.

Bonjasky lost against K-1 and kickboxing superstar Stefan Leko in 2002.

In his quarter-final match, he got a rematch against former foe Stefan Leko, who'd beaten him in 2002, and it turned into a grudge match.

When Bonjasky was champion, Leko was taking a hiatus away from K-1, and his career rise had thus stalled.

He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix heavyweight champion, winning the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008.

He is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time.

Bonjasky has been known for his flying kicks, knee attacks and strong defense, hence the nickname "The Flying Gentleman".

Bonjasky was born in Paramaribo, Suriname and moved to the Netherlands when he was 5 years old.

Bonjasky was involved in football during his teens, but quit after breaking his leg.

At the age of 18, when a friend brought him to the Mejiro Kickboxing Gym to "see who is the best", Bonjasky decided to stay and train and eventually fell in love with kickboxing.

After graduating from university, Bonjasky worked as a banker at ABN Amro for a time.

Bonjasky had his first fight at the age of 19 against Valentijn Overeem.

Bonjasky won by TKO.

From this moment on he quit his job as a network operator and focused on training full-time.

Despite losing his first K-1 fight by split decision he made his second fight against an established K-1 fighter, Ray Sefo, winning by TKO.

On December 6, 2003 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 quarter-finals in Tokyo, Japan, Bonjasky was matched up against Australian fighter Peter "The Chief" Graham.

Remy won the fight by a TKO in the first round.

In semi-finals Cyril Abidi fell victim of The Flying Gentleman's flying knee attacks, and after defeating Musashi in the tournament finals by unanimous decision Bonjasky was crowned the K-1 World champion.

In 2004 he accumulated wins over Tsuyoshi Nakasako, Francois Botha, Aziz Khattou and ex-sumo champion Chad "Akebono" Rowan.

If it hadn't been for his one loss in 2004 against Francisco Filho he would have beaten Semmy Schilt's record of the longest winning streak in K-1 history.

On December 4, 2004 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004, with three decision wins over Ernesto Hoost, Francois Botha and Musashi, Bonjasky successfully defended his K-1 WGP title.

He presented himself on November 19, 2005 for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 finals in Tokyo, to keep his title for a third consecutive year, but was stopped by Semmy Schilt's knee strikes in the tournament's semi-finals.

In 2006, after his divorce and change of trainers, he came back to the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 finals.

Prior to his rematch with Remy, he pledged that the 2006 Grand Prix would be his year to finally become the undisputed champion, at the expense of Bonjasky whom he'd beaten before.

Bonjasky stated that Leko was 'limited'.

In the fight, Bonjasky got hit in the groin twice in the first round and the fight was postponed for 30 minutes.

When the bout resumed, Bonjasky still managed to win the fight by a unanimous decision, after scoring a knockdown in the final minute of the fight.

However, because of a persisting injury to the groin, he was not able to continue the tournament and was replaced by Peter Aerts.

In 2007 Bonjasky's mother died.

Because Remy was badly hurt by this he pulled out of scheduled fights with Badr Hari and Peter Aerts.

His only fight before the final 16 was against Glaube Feitosa in Hawaii.

Remy won by decision and remained open for the final 16 event.

On September 29, 2007 Bonjasky was booked in a rubber match with Stefan Leko at the K-1 World GP 2007 in Seoul Final 16 event.

The pair went in with bad blood, as Remy claimed that simply hearing the name of Leko 'made his blood boil' after their second fight, and he claimed that the groin shots he delivered were deliberate.

He further lit the fuse by claiming Leko was a limited fighter, who 'only had a couple of punches and a spinning back kick, nothing else'.

Leko for his part said he would be glad to prove once and for all that he was the superior fighter, which he claimed was clear from their first fight, and that Remy was 'an actor', and had been 'lucky' the second fight, and had 'the heart of a chicken'.

Bonjasky won the grudge fight by TKO when the ref stopped it in the first round after landing his trademark flying knee strike.

Leko beat the count, but the referee waved off the bout.

Some have criticised the stoppage as K-1 protecting the by-then bigger name superstar, as Remy had been their World Grand Prix champion, and that K-1 wanted him through to the later stages.

Others said that Leko did not display that he still had his faculties.