When Jean-Claude Van Damme became an international film star, there was some debate as to his kick-boxing accomplishments. Former multiple World Kickboxing Champion Don "The Dragon" Wilson even offered Jean-Claude a "$100,000" bounty match to get into the ring and fight him. Van Damme brushed off the "challenge" as a publicity stunt. But, the truth of the matter was that Jean-Claude Van Damme was a successful international kick-boxer, who competed in Europe and the United States during the 1970s and early 1980s.Van Damme began his martial arts training at the age of twelve under the guidance of Master Claude Goetz in Brussels, Belgium. Van Damme trained for 4 years before Master Goetz would allow him to fight in tournament competition. Jean-Claude's debut in 1976, at the age of 16, almost ended in failure. Competing under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg, Jean-Claude was staggered by a round-house kick thrown by fellow countryman, Toon Van Oostrum in Brussels, Belgium. Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knockout Van Oostrum moments later. The experience left an impact on Claude Goetz and he felt that Jean-Claude needed more training before competing again.After two more years of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene. Jean-Claude won his first tournament by scoring 3 knockout victories in one evening. A few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme knocked out fellow prospect Emile Leibman in the first round. After compiling an undefeated full-contact record of 10-0 (10 knockouts), Master Goetz decided to take Jean-Claude to the United States to compete in the WAKO (World All-Styles Kickboxing Organization)World Full-Contact Championships in Tampa, Florida.In order to win the world championship, the winning fighter would have to defeat 5 opponents at the tournament. In his opening match, Jean-Claude faced knockout artist, 'Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman' (from Miami Beach, Florida. Bergman's southpaw stance caught Van Damme by surprise, and for the first and only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook. Van Damme however, showed the martial arts world that he was for real; he climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out cold in 59 seconds of the first round.In the quarter-finals, Jean-Claude knocked out South American Gilberto Diaz in 13 seconds with a spinning back-fist. Diaz had won 15 consecutive full-contact matches prior to this match. According to sources, Van Damme became over-confident following his first two victories, and strayed from his spartan training lifestyle. This may be true, or it may not, regardless, Jean-Claude Van Damme lost a 2-round decision to fellow countryman Patrick Teugels in the semi-finals, and failed in his first and only attempt at winning a world title.A dejected Van Damme returned to Europe determined to reestablish his career. After two tune-up fights, Van Damme scored an upset over former European Karate Champion Micheal Heming. In March, 1980, Jean-Claude scored another upset with a knockout over France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds to win the European Professional Middleweight Kickboxing Championship. After this victory, Van Damme caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor, Mike Anders and multiple European Champion Geet Lemmens tabbed Jean-Claude Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of movie acting. Before he retired from active competition, Jean-Claude defeated Patrick Teugels in under two minutes in their rematch. Following the victory, Jean-Claude retired from fighting. His record fought under full-contact rules, was 18-1 (18 knockouts). Some sources have listed his record as 17-1 (17 Knockouts).After Jean-Claude's film career took off, controversy arose because none of his fights were found. Some experts blasted Van Damme as a fake, saying he only had one amateur fight which he lost. But research and the Internet have finally cleared things up. Jean-Claude Van Damme fought his entire fight career under his birth name of Van Varenberg. Also, videos of his fights now appear on the Internet, including his victories over Teugels, Diaz, and Bergman.
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