Sam Greco
Salvatore "Sam" Greco (born 3 May 1967) is an Australian retired full contact karateka, heavyweight K-1 kickboxer, and mixed martial artist. He was the 1994 Karate World Cup champion and holds notable kickboxing victories over Branko Cikatic, Ernesto Hoost, Mike Bernardo, Stefan Leko, and Ray Sefo, as well as MMA victories over Heath Herring and Shungo Oyama.
| Sam Greco | |
|---|---|
| Born | Salvatore Greco 3 May 1967 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Other names | Slam 'em Sam The Man |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 103 kg (227 lb; 16.2 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Style | Karate Kickboxing |
| Team | Team Greco |
| Rank | 6th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate |
| Years active | 1988–2005 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 32 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 2 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 5 |
| Wins | 3 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | samgreco.com.au |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Last updated on: 22 January 2010 | |
Salvatore "Sam" Greco (born 3 May 1967) is an Australian retired full contact karateka, heavyweight K-1 kickboxer, and mixed martial artist. He was the 1994 Karate World Cup champion and holds notable kickboxing victories over Branko Cikatic, Ernesto Hoost, Mike Bernardo, Stefan Leko, and Ray Sefo, as well as MMA victories over Heath Herring and Shungo Oyama.
Biography and career
[edit]Salvatore Greco was born on 3 May 1967, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and grew up in the suburb of Brunswick. In 2015, Greco stated that he considered the part of Brunswick that he grew up in was 'rough' at the time, and ultimately contributed to his fitness and mental development from a young age. His Italian-born father of greek origins, Vittorio, encouraged him to get involved with soccer from an early age and joined the local Italian backed club, Juventus.[1]
Soccer
[edit]| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Salvatore Greco | ||
| Date of birth | 5 March 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1975–1983 | Brunswick United Juventus[2] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984 | Brunswick United Juventus | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 February 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23 February 2020 | |||
Greco joined Juventus (later Brunswick United Juventus) at the age of six, playing as a junior for nine years where in 1983 he would win the club's best-and-fairest for their under-sixteen squad.[3] Prior to the 1984 National Soccer League season, Greco signed a one-year semi-professional contract with the senior squad, who had just been promoted from the Victorian State Premier League to the former national league, making him the club's youngest player to sign for the senior squad.
Greco made his national debut in the fifth round of the season on 1 April 1984, two days before his seventeenth birthday. Greco started and played the whole home match against Footscray JUST at Gillon oval that finished in a 0–2 loss.[4] At the conclusion of the season and after ten years playing for his local club, Greco decided to focus solely on karate and discontinued his soccer career at the age of seventeen.[5]
Karate
[edit]Greco started training in Kyokushin karate at the age of 11 and commenced tournament fighting at the age of 18 establishing himself as one of Australia's best Kyokushin fighters in the late 1980s and early 1990s winning the heavyweight division of the Australian championships five times in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.[6][7][8][5] In 1988, he fought in the heavyweight division of the 1st Commonwealth Karate Championships held in Sydney placing 3rd with English champion Michael Thompson winning.[7] In 1991, he competed in the 5th World Open Tournament in Japan losing to Michael Thompson in the first round on decision due to accidentally punching him in the face. In 1992, he competed in the heavyweight division of the Oyama Cup Singapore International Open in Singapore placing 3rd with Papua New Guinean Walter Schnaubelt winning.[7]
After the Singapore tournament in October 1992, Sam left Kyokushin fighting as an amateur to join Seidokaikan karate to become a professional karate fighter.[5] Fellow Kyokushin champion Andy Hug had recently joined Seidokaikan and won the 2nd Karate World Cup in October and then in 1993 Michael Thompson also joined Seidokaikan. In June 1993, Sam had his first karate fight at the K-1 Sanctuary III a kickboxing tournament promoted by Seidokaikan karate founder Kazuyoshi Ishii. Sam fought Keisuke Nakagawa who had placed 6th in the 2nd Karate World Cup. In October 1993, Sam competed in the 3rd Karate World Cup defeating Minoru Fujita to make the quarter finals to fight Toshiyuki Atokawa with the judges decision a draw after the first round, and again in the second round, with the fight awarded to Toshiyuki Atokawa on weight difference, who went on to place 3rd. In October 1994, Sam competed in the 4th Karate World Cup making the final after winning four fights. In the final he fought Michael Thompson winning in the first round with a left low kick followed by a straight right body shot to become the Karate World Cup Champion.
K-1
[edit]Sam had his K-1 debut in 1995 at K-1 Hercules. Following year he appeared in his first K-1 World Grand Prix tournament where he suffered his first loss in semifinals against Musashi.
After retiring in 2005 from professional competition, Sam Greco worked as trainer for other fighters, including Bob Sapp.
Professional wrestling
[edit]Greco was originally signed to professional wrestling company World Championship Wrestling, but never wrestled for them, as it folded before he could debut beyond a backstage vignette.[9][10] He made his pro wrestling debut in December 2000, when he was working in WCW's developmental territory NWA Wildside.[11] In November 2002, he was signed up by Wrestle-1, then a co-promotion between K-1 and All Japan Pro Wrestling. In the first Wrestle-1 event, Greco teamed up with masked lucha libre exponent Dos Caras Jr. against Kaz Hayashi and Taiyo Kea, all while wearing his own mask and playing a Dos Caras body double named "Sam Grecaras". They won, with Greco receiving good reviews in the process.[12]
He wrestled again in December 2003, appearing in AJPW to team up with Keiji Mutoh and Abdullah the Butcher against Taka Michinoku, Jamal and D'lo Brown from the villainous faction RO&D. His third and last venture in professional wrestling would be two years later, as part of the briefly revived Wrestle-1 concept. This time he formed a team with fellow K-1 fighter Jan Nortje against Giant Bernard and The Predator, who defeated them when Bernard pinned Nortje.[13]
Acting career
[edit]In 1995 Greco had a small part as an enforcer in the Richard Norton movie Under the Gun, also known as Iron Fist, which was filmed in Victoria.[14] He played the stunt double for retired professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin in the 2007 action thriller The Condemned and also had a small part in the 2008 Australian boxing drama film, Two Fists One Heart which was shot in Western Australia. He has also appeared occasionally in movies as a fight consultant and martial arts advisor.
He had a small part in the fourth episode of the Australian mini-series Underbelly, playing nightclub bouncer Bruno Bolotzi. The episode was first broadcast in February 2008.
He had a small part in an episode of the Australian comedy Pizza, playing the Roman soldier Glutious Maximus. He made another appearance for Pizza this time in a two-part episode Holiday Pizza, playing Pauly's Italian cousin Luigi. The last appearance he made in Pizza was in the Cracker Pizza episode, playing Crackerus in the last season of the series. He also had a part in the Australian comedy Swift and Shift Couriers as Louie "Luigi" Marietti. Both Pizza and Swift and Shift Couriers were created by Greco's good friend Paul Fenech.
He played the Masked Wrestler Zarkos in Scooby-Doo. In the movie Zarkos appears as one of N'Goo Tuana's henchmen, but later he sneaks up on Daphne and captures her and steals the Daemon Ritus from her. Later in the movie he tries to sneak up on Daphne and capture her again but instead they end up fighting; near the end of the fight, he grabs Daphne and throws her onto his back and puts her in a hold but she escapes and defeats him.
Personal life
[edit]On 23 March 2018, Greco suffered a heart attack prior to and during his fighter Jimmy Crute competing in the Hex Fight Series and had triple bypass surgery.[15][16]
Titles and accomplishments
[edit]- 1999 K-1 World Grand Prix 3rd Place
- 1999 W.A.K.O. Pro World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Champion
- 1995 The Best of the Best Tournament Champion
- 1994 W.K.A. World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Heavyweight Champion
- 1994 Seidokaikan Karate World Cup Champion
- 5 time Australian Kyokushin Karate Heavyweight Champion
Kickboxing record
[edit]| 19 Wins (11 (T)KO's, 8 decisions), 9 Losses, 2 Draws | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-10-11 | Loss |  Peter Graham |
K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination | Osaka, Japan | TKO (Leg injury) | 2 | 0:30 | |
| Fails to qualify for K-1 Grand Prix '03 final. | ||||||||
| 2000-04-23 | Loss |  Ernesto Hoost |
K-1 The Millennium | Osaka, Japan | TKO (corner stoppage) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 1999-12-05 | Loss |  Mirko Cro Cop |
K-1 Grand Prix '99 final round semi-finals | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (left low kick/two knockdowns) | 2 | 2:50 | |
| 1999-12-05 | Win |  Ray Sefo |
K-1 Grand Prix '99 final round quarter-finals | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 1999-10-05 | Win |  Stefan Leko |
K-1 World Grand Prix '99 opening round | Osaka, Japan | Decision (majority) | 3 | 2:35 | |
| Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '99 final. | ||||||||
| 1999-07-18 | Loss | Peter Aerts |
K-1 Dream '99 | Nagoya, Japan | KO (right high kick) | 2 | 1:38 | |
| 1999-06-20 | Win |  Mike Bernardo |
K-1 Braves '99 | Fukuoka, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Wins vacant W.A.K.O. Pro World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Title. | ||||||||
| 1999-03-22 | NC |  Samir Benazzouz |
K-1 The Challenge '99 | Tokyo, Japan | No contest (Greco right leg injury) | 2 | 3:00 | |
| 1998-12-13 | Loss |  Andy Hug |
K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round semi-finals | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (majority) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 1998-12-13 | Win | Ernesto Hoost |
K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round quarter-finals | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (corner stoppage/cut) | 2 | 3:00 | |
| 1998-09-27 | Win |  Matt Skelton |
K-1 World Grand Prix '98 opening round | Osaka, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '98 final. | ||||||||
| 1998-05-24 | Win | Carl Bernardo |
Crash at the Crown | Melbourne, Australia | TKO | 5 | ||
| 1998-07-18 | Loss |  Jérôme Le Banner |
K-1 Dream '98 | Nagoya, Japan | KO (punch) | 2 | 2:07 | |
| 1997-11-09 | Loss |  Francisco Filho |
K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final quarter final | Tokyo, Japan | KO (right hook) | 1 | 0:15 | |
| 1997-09-07 | Win |  Jean-Claude Leuyer |
K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st round | Osaka, Japan | KO (right hook) | 2 | 1:55 | |
| Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '97 final. | ||||||||
| 1997-07-20 | Win | Branko Cikatić |
K-1 Dream '97 | Nagoya, Japan | KO (right hooks) | 1 | 2:58 | |
| 1997-04-29 | Draw | Andy Hug |
K-1 Braves '97 | Fukuoka, Japan | Decision draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 1996-12-08 | Draw | Jérôme Le Banner |
K-1 Hercules '96 | Nagoya, Japan | Decision draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 1996-10-18 | Win | Gerry Harris |
K-1 Star Wars '96 | Yokohama, Japan | TKO | 1 | 2:38 | |
| 1996-09-01 | NC |  Musashi |
K-1 Revenge '96 | Osaka, Japan | No contest | 3 | 0:22 | |
| 1996-05-06 | Loss | Musashi |
K-1 Grand Prix '96 quarter-finals | Yokohama, Japan | TKO (doctor stoppage/broken toe) | 1 | 3:00 | |
| 1996-03-10 | Win |  Perry Telgt |
K-1 Grand Prix '96 Opening Battle | Yokohama, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '96 final. | ||||||||
| 1995-12-09 | Win | Duane Van Der Merwe |
K-1 Hercules | Nagoya, Japan | KO (kick) | 1 | 1:24 | |
| 1995-10-22 | Win | Stan Longinidis |
The Best of the Best Tournament, Final | Melbourne, Australia | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins The Best of the Best Tournament. | ||||||||
| 1995-10-22 | Win | Ben Hamilton |
The Best of the Best Tournament, semi-finals | Melbourne, Australia | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 1995-10-22 | Win | Sam Sweet |
The Best of the Best Tournament, quarter-finals | Melbourne, Australia | KO | 1 | ||
| 1995-09-03 | Loss | Peter Aerts |
K-1 Revenge II | Yokohama, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 1995-03-03 | Win |  Vjatcheslav Soukhanov |
K-1 Grand Prix '95 Opening Battle | Tokyo, Japan | KO (punch) | 3 | 1:33 | |
| Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '95 Final - would be unable to participate due to injury. | ||||||||
| 1994-12-10 | Win | Masaaki Satake |
K-1 Legend | Nagoya, Japan | KO (right punch) | 2 | 1:27 | |
| Wins Satake's W.K.A. World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight title. | ||||||||
| 1994-05-22 | Win | Zennie Reynolds |
ISKA - The Showdown | Melbourne, Australia | KO (high kick) | 1 | 1:43 | |
| Wins the I.S.K.A. South Pacific Super Heavyweight title. | ||||||||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 5 matches | 3 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3–1–1 | Shungo Oyama | KO (knees and punches) | Hero's 3 | 9 July 2005 | 1 | 2:37 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–1–1 | Heath Herring | TKO (knee injury) | Hero's 1 | 26 March 2005 | 1 | 2:41 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 1–1–1 | Lyoto Machida | Decision (split) | K-1 MMA ROMANEX | 22 May 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0–1 | Stefan Gamlin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | K-1 Beast 2004 in Niigata | 14 March 2004 | 1 | 0:25 | Niigata Prefecture, Japan | |
| Draw | 0–0–1 | Masaaki Satake | Draw | Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 | 31 December 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Master of karate and friendship for everyone | Latrobe Valley Express". www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016.
- ^ the soccer club was known as Juventus prior to 1980
- ^ "Moreland Zebras on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.[user-generated source]
- ^ "1984 National Soccer League results".
- ^ a b c Boyle, Jarrod (8 May 2014). "Sam Greco: Experience is worth more than anything". International Kickboxer. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
- ^ "Sam Greco Australia's Full Contact King". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. ISSN 0818-9595. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Karate Karate Karate". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. Instructors Fighting Techniques Collector's Edition. ISSN 0818-9595. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Tony Bowden: The Shihan who never gave up". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "WCW Thunder". p.W.w. Everything Wrestling. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ Panichi, James. "Slam'em Sam! The former kickboxing champ is taking his killer glance to Atlanta". Australian Sports Entertainment. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Matches « Sam Greco « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ^ Wilson, Kevin. "All Japan Wrestle-1". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Kevin. "World-1 Grand Prix". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Under the Gun (1995)". IMDb.
- ^ Mitchell, Neil (4 April 2018). "Former kickboxing champ "shaken" by his experience of a heart attack". 3AW. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ Sam Greco (13 August 2019). "Open Heart Triple Bypass Surgery". Sam Greco Official page. Retrieved 19 October 2019 – via Facebook.
