|
|
| Standardized Tournaments And Ratings System AUTHENTICATED KICKBOXING RECORD As of 1999 Jun 18 Revised: 2012 October 08
STEVE SHEPHERD Born: 1950 October 10 Citizenship: United States Birthplace: New York City, NY, USA Hometowns: Lake Worth & West Palm Beach, FL Height: 6 feet (1.82 meters) Martial Arts Background: Shotokan-Goju karate KICKBOXING RECORD | Total | Wins | Losses | Draws | No Contests | Knockouts | Kick-Knockouts | Experimental Rules | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | International Rules | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Full-Contact Rules | 42 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | STAR SUMMARY RECORD | 56 | 50 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 1 | SUMMARY TOTALS | 56 | 50 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 1 | | | | RING STATISTICS | | World Championship | Career | Qualifying Bouts | 26 | 56 | Rounds-Fought Average | 6.2 | 5.3 | Knockout Average | 53.8% | 48.2% | Kick-Knockout Average | 0.0% | 1.8% |
SPECIALTY FIGHTING SKILLS An unpredictable ring general with a difficult defense, Shepherd aggressively targeted an opponent’s most painful tactical weaknesses. Although known as a kicker on the tournament karate circuit, inside the ring he utilized kicks more as an annoyance weapon to set up hard punches. He was an excellent counterpuncher with a surprisingly fast yet thunderbolt straight right and a dangerous left hook. Against aggressive opponents, he would wait in ambush until he could open up with a blaze of counterblows. He might even give away a few rounds to tire an aggressor and make him overconfident. Against a defensive opponent, he would use kicks and reaching jabs to orchestrate sudden bursts of in-close punching power. He might also feign wobbly-kneed weakness to lure a defender into an unexpected power shot. KICKBOXING TITLES ISKA Light Middleweight World Championship (159 lbs / 72.2 kg – Full-Contact Rules) WKA Super Middleweight World Champion (167 lbs / 75.9 kg– International Rules) STAR Historic Undisputed Middleweight World Champion (160 lbs / 72.7 kg– Without Clinch-Fighting) WKA Middleweight World Champion (160 lbs / 72.7 kg – International Rules) PKA Welterweight World Champion (157 lbs / 71.3 kg – Full-Contact Rules) PKA South East Regional Middleweight Champion (165 lbs / 75.0 kg – Full-Contact Rules) AWARDS & HONORS 1988 STAR Career Top-10 – #2 Top-Rated Kickboxer of All Time (American Karate & Official Karate magazines) 1982 Kickboxing Hall of Fame – Fighter of the Year (American Karate & Official Karate magazines) 1981 People’s Heavyweight World Champion 1981 STAR & WKA Number-One Heavyweight Contender – Only Middleweight Ever Ranked as Top Heavyweight 1982 Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame (http://www.palmbeachsports.com/hofinductees) 1982 – First Kickboxer to Surpass $1 Million in Live Gate Box Office Receipts Developed first padded fight shoes approved for ring competition Date | Result | Weight Division | Opponent | Location | Method | Round | Sanction Rules | Promoter | Corroboration | W-L-D,KO,KKO | Titles – Notes | 1999 Jun 18 | WIN | 159 lbs | Don Steadman | National Guard Armory West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | ISKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 13,15 | 50-5-0, 27,1 | 1998 Nov | WIN | 165 lbs | Tom Bentley | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 6 | ISKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 13,15 | 49-5-0, 27,1 | 1994 Sep 24 | LOSS | 159 lbs | Francis Farley *1 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | TKO | 7 (bell) | ISKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 11,13,16, 17,18 | 48-5-0, 27,1 | ISKA Light Middleweight World Championship (13th Title Bout) | 1993 Jun 19 | WIN | 159 lbs | Francisco Campeon | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 4 | ISKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 13,19 | 48-4-0, 27,1 | ISKA Light Middleweight World Championship Elimination | 1990 Jul 14 | WIN | 165 lbs | Kevin Gruca | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 3 | ISKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 11,13,20 | 47-4-0, 26,1 | 1988 Jul 30 | LOSS | 165 lbs | Robert Harris *2 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DSQ (MKR violation) | 7 | ISKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 9,11,12,14 | 46-4-0, 25,1 | ISKA Middleweight World Championship Elimination | 1987 Dec 11 | WIN | 167 lbs | James Mack | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 6 | NONE Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | | 9,14 | 46-3-0, 25,1 | 1987 Oct 21 | WIN | 167 lbs | William Knorr | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | WKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 13,14 | 45-3-0, 25,1 | 1986 Aug 07 | WIN | 165 lbs | Alan Watson | Musicana Dinner Theatre West Palm Beach, FL USA | DECISION | 5 | WKA Full-Contact | Unreported | S | 13,14,21 | 44-3-0, 25,1 | 1984 Oct 20 | NC | 167 lbs | Larry McFadden *3 | Palm Beach Junior College Auditorium Lake Worth, FL, USA | NO-CONTEST | 4 | WKA Full-Contact | Bob Gordon | S | 13,22,23,24 | 43-3-0, 25,1 | WKA Ruling Transmutes Outcome to No-Contest | 1983 Oct 22 | WIN | 167 lbs | Yasuo Tabata *4 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | SPLIT DECISION (MKR) | 11 | WKA International | Steve Shepherd | S | 7,14,24,25,26 | 43-3-0, 25,1 | Wins WKA Super Middleweight World Title (5th World Championship, 12th Title Bout) (Vacates WKA Super Middleweight World Title as of January 1984 upon Second Announced Retirement) | 1983 Aug 19 | WIN | 167 lbs | Jerry Jensen | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 2 | WKA Full-Contact | Ernie Letiziano | S | 14,27 | 42-3-0, 25,1 | 1983 Jul 08 | WIN | 160 lbs | “Joe” Joseph Marciano *5 | Diplomat Hotel Hollywood-by-the-Sea, FL, USA | KICK-KO | 2 | WKA Full-Contact | Ernie Letiziano | S | 14,27 | 41-3-0, 24,1 | 1982 Nov 06 | LOSS | 160 lbs | John Moncayo *6 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 11 | WKC International | Ron Martin, Steve Shepherd | S | 7,14,28,29 Taped – Not Broadcast | 40-3-0, 23,0 | WKC Middleweight World Title Bout (11th Title Bout) | 1982 Jun 26 | LOSS | 160 lbs | John Moncayo *7 | Sands Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV, USA | TKO | 9 | WKA International | Ted Kopplar, Howard Hanson | S | 7,8,14 TV Syndication | 40-2-0, 23,0 | WKA Middleweight World Title Bout – 4th Defense (10th Title Bout) | 1982 Feb 20 | WIN | 160 lbs | Daryl “Nitro” Croker | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO (one-two – jaw) | 4 | WKA International | Steve Shepherd | S | 7,14,30 | 40-1-0, 23,0 | Retains WKA Middleweight World Title – 3rd Defense (9th Title Bout) | 1981 Nov 19 | WIN | None | Demetrius “Oaktree” Edwards *8 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | SPLIT DECISION | 10 | WKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 7,13,14,31 | 39-1-0, 22,0 | 1981 Oct 10 | WIN | 160 lbs | Frank Knight | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 5 | WKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 14 | 38-1-0, 22,0 | 1981 Jul 25 | WIN | 160 lbs | Dave Hedgecock | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | TKO (st right – jaw) | 3 | WKA International | Steve Shepherd | S | 7,14,32 | 37-1-0, 21,0 | Retains WKA Middleweight World Title – 2nd Defense (8th Title Bout) | 1981 May 02 | WIN | 167 lbs | Bob Thurman | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 8 | WKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 14,33 | 36-1-0, 20,0 | 1981 Apr 22 | WIN | 156 lbs | Frank Medina | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 6 | NONE Experimental | Unreported | S | 9,10,14,33 | 35-1-0, 20,0 | Kickboxing versus Boxing Mix-Match | 1981 Feb 03 | WIN | 160 lbs | John Moncayo | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO (rt cross – chin) | 1 | WKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 3,14 | 34-1-0, 20,0 | 1981 Jan 19 | WIN | 160 lbs | Greg Smith | Brassy’s Nightclub Cocoa Beach, FL, USA | TKO | 6 | WKA Full-Contact | Bob Padgett, Tom Watson | S | 5,14 | 33-1-0, 19,0 | 1980 Nov 07 | WIN | 157.9 lbs | Earnest Hart, Jr. *9 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO (rt hook – head) | 7 | WKA PKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd, Don Haines | S | 4,6,14,34 ESPN-TV | 32-1-0, 18,0 | Retains WKA Middleweight World Title – 1st Defense (7th Title Bout) Retains PKA Welterweight World Title – 4th Defense (7th Title Bout) (PKA Welterweight World Title Vacated by Sanction in January 1981) | 1980 Fall | WIN | None | Javier (Unreported Surname) *10 | Miami, FL, USA | TKO (body) | 1 | NONE Full-Contact | Unreported | | 1,13 | 31-1-0, 17,0 | 1980 Fall | WIN | None | Frank Williams *10 | Miami, FL, USA | KO (rt cross) | 2 | NONE Full-Contact | Unreported | | 1,13 | 30-1-0, 16,0 | 1980 Fall | WIN | None | Julio Rodriguez *10 | Miami, FL, USA | TKO (liver punch) | 1 (0:30) | NONE Full-Contact | Unreported | | 1,13 | 29-1-0, 15,0 | Three Professional-Amateur Exhibitions at One Event | 1980 Jul 26 | WIN | 157.9 lbs | Arthur O’Laughlin | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO (rt & lt hooks – ribs) | 6 (1:32) | PKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 14,35,36 ESPN-TV | 28-1-0, 14,0 | Retains PKA Welterweight World Title – 3rd Defense (6th Title Bout) | 1980 May 17 | WIN | 157.9 lbs | “Irish” Mike Brennan | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | TKO | 12 | PKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,6,7,14,37,38 | 27-1-0, 13,0 | Retains PKA Welterweight World Title – 2nd Defense (5th Title Bout) | 1980 Feb 08 | WIN | 157.9 lbs | Gary Baker *11 | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | TKO | 2 | PKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,14 | 26-1-0, 12,0 | 1979 Oct 19 | WIN | 157 lbs | Earnest Hart, Jr. | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 6 (1:58) | PKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,2,6,7,14, 39 ESPN-TV | 25-1-0, 11,0 | Wins PKA Welterweight World Title (3rd World Championship, 4th Title Bout) STAR Historic Recognition as Undisputed Middleweight World Champion (4th World Championship, 4th Title Bout) | 1979 May 26 | WIN | 160 lbs | Chris Gallegos | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 9 | WKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,2,6,7,14, 40 | 24-1-0, 10,0 | Wins WKA Middleweight World Title (2nd World Championship, 3rd Title Bout) | 1979 Mar 07 | WIN | 157 lbs | Dale “Apollo” Cook | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 9 | NONE Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,14 | 23-1-0, 10,0 | 1979 Jan 13 | WIN | 157 lbs | Benny Fernandez | Bradenton, FL, USA | KO | 2 | PKA Full-Contact | Hastings, Randy Houp | S | 1,14 | 22-1-0, 10,0 | 1978 Nov 30 | LOSS | 157 lbs | Earnest Hart, Jr. *12 | Atlanta, GA, USA | DECISION | 12 | PKA Full-Contact | Joe Corley, Don & Judy Quine | S | 1,2,6,7,14 CBS-TV | 21-1-0, 9,0 | PKA Welterweight World Title Bout – 1st Defense (2nd Title Bout) | 1978 Oct 20 | WIN | 157 lbs | Pete Manchee | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 4 | PKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,14 | 21-0-0, 9,0 | 1978 Jul 22 | WIN | 157 lbs | Bob Ryan | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 9 | PKA Full-Contact | Don Haynes, Steve Shepherd | S | 1,2,6,7,14 | 20-0-0, 8,0 | Wins PKA Welterweight World Title (1st World Championship, 1st Title Bout) | 1978 | WIN | 157 lbs | Jesse Brandt | Stuart, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | NONE Full-Contact | Harvey Hastings | | 1,14 | 19-0-0, 8,0 | 1978 Apr 15 | WIN | 170 lbs | Rick Herranz | Palm Beach Junior College Auditorium Lake Worth, FL, USA | KO | 2 | PKA Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 1,14,41 | 18-0-0, 8,0 | 1977 Dec | WIN | 165 lbs | Bobby Sullivan *13 | Miami, FL, USA | DECISION | 7 | NONE Full-Contact | John Pachivas | S | 1,14 | 17-0-0, 7,0 | 1977 Nov 15 | WIN | 165 lbs | Jesse Brandt | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | KO | 1 | NONE Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | S | 1,14 | 16-0-0, 7,0 | 1977 | WIN | 165 lbs | Gator Garland | Miami, FL, USA | DECISION | 6 | NONE Full-Contact | Steve Beattie | S | 1,14 | 15-0-0, 6,0 | 1977 Sep 10 | WIN | 165 lbs | Bill Knoblock *14 | Miami, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | PKA Full-Contact | Jim Wilson, Chip Allen | S | 1,14 | 14-0-0, 6,0 | 1977 Jul 16 | WIN | 165 lbs | Ted Pryor | West Palm Beach Auditorium West Palm Beach, FL, USA | SPLIT DECISION | 7 | NONE Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | | 1,14 | 13-0-0, 6,0 | 1977 May 07 | WIN | 165 lbs | James Sisco *15 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA | KO | 5 | NONE Full-Contact | Unreported | | 1,14 | 12-0-0, 6,0 | 1977 Apr | WIN | 165 lbs | Dennis Black | Palm Beach College Gym West Palm Beach, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | NONE Full-Contact | Steve Shepherd | | 1,14 | 11-0-0, 5,0 | 1977 Mar | WIN | 165 lbs | Harold Diamond (aka Harold Roth) | Mr. America Contest Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA | KO | 2 | NONE Full-Contact | Unreported | | 1,14 | 10-0-0, 5,0 | 1976 | WIN | 165 lbs | Benny Fernandez | Miami, FL, USA | KO | 1 | NONE Full-Contact | Steve Beattie, Herbie Thompson | | 1,14 | 9-0-0, 4,0 | 1976 Sep 11 | WIN | 165 lbs | Bill Clarke | Tampa, FL, USA | DECISION | 7 | PKA Full-Contact | Nyle Clay | S | 1,14 | 8-0-0, 3,0 | Wins PKA South East Regional Middleweight Title | 1976 | WIN | 165 lbs | Julio Rodriguez | Miami, FL, USA | KO | 3 | NONE Experimental | Steve Beattie | | 1,14 | 7-0-0, 3,0 | 1976 Aug 14 | WIN | 165 lbs | Napoleon Davis | Tampa, FL, USA | KO | 3 | PKA Experimental | Nyle Clay | S | 1,14 | 6-0-0, 2,0 | 1976 Aug 07 | WIN | 182 lbs | Dave Dean *16 | Tampa, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | PKA (SEPKC) Experimental | Nyle Clay | S | 1,14 | 5-0-0, 1,0 | 1976 Jul 31 | WIN | 182 lbs | Rex Abernathy | Tampa, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | PKA Experimental | Nyle Clay | S | 1,14 | 4-0-0, 1,0 | 1976 May 28 | WIN | 182 lbs | Gary Felder | Tampa, FL, USA | DECISION | 5 | PKA Experimental | Nyle Clay, John Ormsby | S | 1,14 | 3-0-0, 1,0 | 1975 Nov | WIN | None | Don Wilson | Miami, FL, USA | DECISION | 3 | NONE Experimental | Steve Beattie | S | 1,14 | 2-0-0, 1,0 | 1975 Feb | WIN | None | Harold “Nature Boy” Roth | Tampa, FL, USA | TKO (quit) | 3 | NONE Experimental | Jim Martin | | 1,14 | 1-0-0, 1,0 | 
| KICKBOXING Any stand-up combative sport where competitors fight with kicks and punches for a knockout or multi-judge decision over scheduled rounds divided by rest periods. Throughout the 1980s, the STAR System World Kickboxing Ratings strictly distinguished between kickboxing which prohibited clinch-fighting and muay Thai which permitted clinch-fighting. STAR regarded kickboxing and muay Thai as different sports. Since that era, combative sports have become more broadly divided between kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Sanctioning bodies have embraced competition and established kickboxing titles under multiple rule formats. For the sake of the historic record, all prominent rule formats have been indicated within ring record compilations. | | Predominant Kickboxing Rule Formats | Without Clinch-Fighting | INTERNATIONAL – low kicks and footsweeps allowed, no clinch-fighting, no throws (i.e. freestyle, boxe française-savate, WKA style) | FULL-CONTACT – no striking below the waist, no clinch-fighting, no throws, minimum or continual kick requirement (i.e. full-contact karate, American kickboxing, PKA style) | | Clinch-Fighting Optional | EXPERIMENTAL – variable rule schemes from the early formative period of kickboxing (i.e. USKA, WSMAC, NKL), or special negotiated rules to enable a mix-match between contestants from otherwise different combative sports (i.e. kickboxer versus muay Thai fighter) | | With Clinch-Fighting | ASIAN – low kicks and sweeps allowed, knees to body and legs allowed, limited clinch-fighting allowed, no throws (i.e. K-1, modified muay Thai, muay Euro, Japanese kick-boxing) | CHINESE – low kicks and sweeps allowed, knees to body and legs allowed, limited clinch-fighting allowed, throws and takedowns allowed (i.e. san shou, sanda) | THAI – low kicks allowed, knee and elbow strikes allowed, clinch-fighting permitted, no throws, scoring based on classic techniques (i.e. muay Thai, Thai boxing) | | Sanctioning Groups | Official Outcomes | ISKA – International Sport Karate Association | DECISION – three judges score for the winner | NONE – Independent promotion or smaller startup sanctioning group | MAJORITY DECISION – two judges score for the winner, one even | SPLIT DECISION – two judges score for the winner, one for the loser | PKA – Professional Karate Association | DRAW – the judges score for both contestants evenly | SEPKC – South East Professional Karate Commission | MAJORITY DRAW – two judges score evenly | STAR – Standardized Tournaments And Ratings System | SPLIT DRAW – one judge scores for each contestant, one even | WKA – World Kickboxing Association | TDRAW – technical draw (fight stopped without basis for a decision) | WKC – World Karate Council | DSQ (DISQUALIFICATION) – – regarded the same as a TKO; typically the winner has been determined by penalty for a deliberate foul or for consecutive round violations of the minimum kick requirement | | | KO – knockout | | KICK-KO (KKO) – kick-knockout | | KICK-TKO(TKKO) – technical kick-knockout | | TKO – technical knockout | | NO-CONTEST – outcome officially set aside | | NO-DECISION – competitive bout conducted without judges |
STAR Equalization Findings For purposes of world-rated kickboxing competition and record keeping, STAR equalization findings differentiated between amateur and professional bouts, excluded bouts from other related combative sports (boxing, muay Thai, grappling), as well as arbitrated any peculiarities that occurred in the early and unruly era of kickboxing’s rapidly changing rules and uneven standards for fair competition. The STAR System had no interest in advancing one competitor over another and never interfered with a competitor’s official kickboxing record beyond the aforementioned distinctions. *1 | Shepherd v Farley: Shepherd suffered a broken rib from a right hook to the body that punctured his lung. He did not answer the bell for the seventh round. | *2 | Shepherd v Harris: Harris scored a knockdown in round three. Shepherd returned the favor, scoring a knockdown in round five. Shepherd also visibly stunned Harris in rounds four and six. Shepherd was ahead on the raw scorecards when he was disqualified before the start of round seven following three consecutive round violations of the eight Minimum Kick Requirement (MKR). While acknowledging the MKR violations as he pressed for a knockout victory, Shepherd nevertheless filed a protest because Harris had similarly violated the MKR rule. ISKA commissioner Karyn Turner dismissed the protest because Shepherd’s MKR violation was for three consecutive rounds, whereas Harris’s violation was for two rounds. In 2012, a journalistic review of the fight video by Paul Maslak concluded that the proper kick count for each fighter was as follows: Kicks Thrown by Round | Round | Shepherd | Harris | 1 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
Additionally, Harris raised his leg without executing a regulation kick on two occasions in round four, three occasions in round five, and one occasion in round six. ISKA’s refusal to sustain Shepherd’s protest was not unusual under its rules at that time. ISKA would later replace the Minimum Kick Requirement with the Continual Kicking Rule as follows: “There is no Minimum Kick Count under ISKA Full Contact Kickboxing rules. Each Fighter must continually kick throughout the round. If a Fighter kicks ten times in the first thirty seconds, and does not kick for the next ninety seconds, they haven’t continually kicked. A fair ratio of Kicks to Punches must be used throughout the whole round. Legal kicks are considered those which are attempts to land hard on a target area of the opponent's body, with the intent to do damage, or any legitimate attempt to kick the head. If a fighter is deemed by the Referee or Judges to have failed to continually kick throughout a round, the referee will give a caution or a public warning that must be announced by the D.O.C. (Director of competition). After the first Public warning the referee will deduct points at his discretion. If a fighter deliberately breaks the Continual Kicking Rule he may be disqualified. If both fighters should simultaneously fail to meet their Continual Kicking Rule as described, the bout would be stopped and declared a no contest.” Under the subsequent Continual Kicking Rule, this bout might have been declared a no-contest or, at the very least, Shepherd would been given advance warning that he was in danger of points deductions and disqualification. Under WKA rules, Shepherd would not have been disqualified, but may have lost one point for each round in which he did not kick. | *3 | Shepherd v McFadden: Shepherd was disqualified for consecutive Minimum Kick Requirement violations. However, WKA rules did not recognize disqualifications for MKR violations; only point deductions were assessed. Shepherd was ahead on the scorecards. The WKA transmuted the disqualification to a no-contest. This comeback bout was intended as the first of a series leading to a showdown against WKA Light-Heavyweight World Champion Don “The Dragon” Wilson. | *4 | Shepherd v Tabata: Shepherd’s first bout against a major low kick expert. Tabata lost owing to minimum kick requirement point deductions. Always a frugal promoter, Shepherd refused to pay unauthorized costs incurred by WKA President Howard Hanson’s entourage. Hanson threated to vacate Shepherd’s new title, but never acted on the threat. Shepherd vacated the title as of January 1984 upon his second announced retirement. | *5 | Shepherd v Marciano: Sole kickboxing bout on a boxing card. | *6 | Shepherd v Moncayo-3: 5,200 spectators. The Minimum Kick Requirement rule was waved. Shepherd re-broke his jaw in two places; the first in round 2 and the in other in round 5. Nevertheless, he rallied beginning in the round 9, though not enough to take the decision. Final scores all in Moncayo’s favor: 107-102, 106-104 and 105-104. After this bout, Shepherd initially announced his retirement from the ring. Ticket prices: $10 general, $15 reserved, $25-$35-$50 ringside. | *7 | Shepherd v Moncayo-2: Moncayo was a last-minute substitute when Shepherd’s opponent cancelled on the morning of the bout. Shepherd unknowingly suffered from dehydration during the bout, owing to losing weight too fast. Dehydration severely impedes endurance, balance and the ability to withstand concussion. Shepherd broke his jaw during the last round. | *8 | Shepherd v Edwards: Although a natural 159-pound middleweight, Shepherd defeated reigning PKA Heavyweight World Champion Edwards in a non-title heavyweight and was subsequently ranked for a time as the Number-One Heavyweight Contender for STAR and the WKA. Shepherd justifiably proclaimed himself the People’s Heavyweight Champion. Shepherd undertook this challenge in part to embarrass the PKA for having vacated his PKA world title without valid cause or public explanation. The PKA initially approved this bout as a title defense for Edwards, then pulled the sanction. The PKA demanded that the Edwards camp only agree to a 10-round non-title bout or Edwards must vacate their title. During the bout, Shepherd sustained a spine injury that, sometime later, led to ruptured disk surgery. The power and reach of Shepherd’s straight right cross were never again quite the same. | *9 | Shepherd v Hart-3: The first major double-sanctioned world title bout. The Hart camp protested the knockout decision, alleging that Hart had managed to get to his feet before referee Jay T. Will counted ten. Both the PKA and the WKA rejected the protest. In January 1981, the PKA removed Steve Shepherd as their champion without issuing a clear statement of cause. Most respected ring observers, including STAR and Steve Shepherd, presumed Shepherd’s removal resulted from Shepherd’s refusal to allow ESPN-TV cameras to tape the event until after the PKA paid arrears TV rights fees to the promotion company. | *10 | Shepherd v Unreported, Williams, Rodriguez: Three bouts one after the other at the same event. As a pro-am exhibition, these bouts were not STAR-rated. | *11 | Shepherd v Baker: 5,200 spectators. Bout conducted under new PKA definition of weight limit. | *12 | Shepherd v Hart-1: First 12-round world title bout. Decision of the judges was questioned by other PKA officials and spectators at the event. A protest was filed but the outcome was upheld. | *13 | Shepherd v Sullivan: Shepherd won every round. | *14 | Shepherd v Knoblock: Minimum Kick Requirement was raised to 8 per round. | *15 | Shepherd v Sisco: Sole kickboxing bout on a boxing card. | *16 | Shepherd v Dean: Part of the first full-contact karate team event in Florida. |
Corroboration 1 | STAR System Administrative Inquiry (1981). Personal testimonials from WKA President Howard Hanson and Steve Shepherd | 2 | Barden, Renardo (March 1980). “The Comeback, Come-Down Knockabout Road to Double Champ,” Karate Illustrated magazine, p. 14 | 3 | Lawrence, Rick (May 1981). “Shepherd Kayos Moncayo,” Karate Today magazine, Vol 1, No 2, p. 40 | 4 | Marlow, Chris (Nov 1981). “The WKA: The First Worldwide Sanctioning Body For Full-Contact Karate,” Karate Monthly magazine, p. 60 | 5 | Watson, Tom (May 1981). “Shepherd Defeats Smith,” Karate Today magazine, Vol 1, No 2, P. 20 | 6 | Corcoran, John and Farkas, Emil (1983). Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People. Gallery Books, W.H. Smith Publishers, Inc., New York, pp. 280-286 | 7 | Corcoran, John (December 1994).The Martial Arts Sourcebook, Perennial, Harper Collins, Chapter 8 | 8 | Marlow, Chris (November 1982). “Upset of the Decade”, Karate Illustrated magazine, p. 70 | 9 | Administrative Inquiry (8 September 2011). Personal testimonial by Steve Shepherd | 10 | “Steve Shepherd” (Global ID 257873), BoxRec website at http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=257873&cat=boxer. Retrieved on 8 September 2011. | 11 | STAR Journalistic Inquiry (6 June 2011). Email testimonial by bout’s ISKA referee Robert Mason. | 12 | STAR Journalistic Inquiry (7 July 2011). Email testimonial by ISKA Commissioner Karyn Turner. | 13 | STAR Journalistic Inquiry (6-12 September 2011). Email and phone call testimonial by Steve Shepherd. | 14 | STAR System Administrative Inquiry (1988). Correspondence testimonial from trainer Rick Mandris. | 15 | Moschella, Nick (June 18, 1999). “Headstrong and Back in Boxing,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. 11C. | 16 | “Kick-Boxer Shepherd Quits at 44” (September 30, 1994). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. 6C SPORTS. | 17 | Talbott, Chris (September 24, 1994). “Rival Kicks Shepherd’s Title Hopes Away,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. 9C SPORTS. | 18 | Otterson, Chuck (May 15, 1994). “Kick-Boxer Seeks Title Bout Here,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. 13C SPORTS. | 19 | Snook, Jeff (June 19, 1993). “Shepherd Joins List of Over-40 Ex-Retirees,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. 9C SPORTS. | 20 | Lazzarino, Chris (July 25, 1990). “Kickboxing’s Historic Event,” Sun-Sentinel, Tribune Company, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, p. 21 PALM BEACH PLUS. | 21 | “Kickboxing Card Aug. 7 in West Palm” (July 25, 1987). Miami Herald, The McClatchy Company, Miami, FL, p. 5C SPORTS. | 22 | “Shepherd-McFadden Bout Heads Kickboxing Card” (October 20, 1984). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D5 SPORTS. | 23 | “Shepherd Fight Set for Saturday” (October 19, 1984). Miami Herald, The McClatchy Company, Miami, FL, p. 2F SPORTS. | 24 | “Shepherd Bout Set Saturday” (October 19, 1984). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D3 SPORTS. | 25 | “Shepherd Wins WKA Title” (October 23, 1983). Miami Herald, The McClatchy Company, Miami, FL, p. 12C SPORTS. | 26 | “Shepherd Awaits Kick-Boxing Title, End to Nightmare” (October 20, 1983). Miami Herald, The McClatchy Company, Miami, FL, p. 4D SPORTS. | 27 | Tucker, Tim (August 18, 1983). “Shepherd Resurrects Career from the Jaws of Retirement,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D1, D8 SPORTS. | 28 | Carr, Janis (November 8, 1982). “Shepherd Beaten into Retirement,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. B5-B6 SPORTS. | 29 | Carr, Janis (November 6, 1982). “Shepherd Out to Regain Title in Tonight’s Kick Boxing Card,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D8 SPORTS. | 30 | Denes, Laszlo (February 9, 1982). “Shepherd to Defend Karate Title,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D5 SPORTS. | 31 | “Shepherd to Meet Heavyweight Champ” (November 11, 1981). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D4 SPORTS. | 32 | “Shepherd Highlights Fight Card” (July 23, 1981). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D7 SPORTS. | 33 | “Shepherd Defends Title Saturday at Auditorium” (April 28, 1981). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D8 SPORTS. | 34 | “Shepherd-Hart III Contested Tonight” (November 7, 1980). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D3 SPORTS. | 35 | “Shepherd Takes Nontitle Win” (July 27, 1980). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. E5 SPORTS. | 36 | “Shepherd Heads Karate Card” (July 17, 1980). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. E2 SPORTS. | 37 | Otterson, Chuck (May 17, 1980). “Shepherd Defends Kick-Boxing Title,” The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D3 SPORTS. | 38 | “Shepherd Defends Title at Auditorium Saturday” (May 14, 1980). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D7 SPORTS. | 39 | “Shepherd, Hart Battle for Title” (October 19, 1979). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D2 SPORTS. | 40 | “Shepherd Signs for Title Bout Saturday” (April 26, 1979). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D9 SPORTS. | 41 | “Shepherd Featured in Karate Card” (April 4, 1978). The Palm Beach Post, Cox Enterprises, West Palm Beach, FL, p. D3 SPORTS. |
Other References · CBS-TV – USA (1978) | · ESPN-TV – USA (1979-1980) | · “Steve Shepherd biography” (Retrieved 5 June 2011) at http://wikibin.org/ | · Maslak, Paul (Jan 1987 – May 1988). “AK’s Kickboxing Report,” “The STAR System Kickboxing Ratings,” American Karate magazine | · Maslak, Paul (Nov 1982 – Jan 1987). “OK’s Kickboxing Report,” “The STAR SYSTEM: World Kickboxing Ratings,” Official Karate magazine | · “The S.T.A.R. System Full-Contact World Ratings” (December 1980 – August 1982). KICK Illustrated magazine |
| |
|