Mike Bernardo

Michael Shawn Bernardo (28 July 1969 – 14 February 2012) was a South African kickboxer and boxer from Cape Town.

Mike Bernardo was of Italian and English heritage and was born in Fishhoek near Cape Town on 28 July 1969.

A lot of children at school were in gangs and they would always pick on me and beat me up because I was a big guy so they could prove their friends they were stronger.

[3] It was under the guidance of former boxing champion Steve Kalakoda where Mike Bernardo received his kickboxing training.

Just as he did against Hug one year before, Bernardo scored a big upset with a huge right cross that knocked the former K-1 World Grand Prix champion out.

Bernardo's other major success took place in 2000 when he won the K-1 World Grand Prix in Fukuoka, beating Jörgen Kruth, Andrew Thompson and then Mirko Cro Cop in the final.

[citation needed] Though he never did win the K-1 World Grand Prix crown, Bernardo proved he could hang with the very best fighters.

In addition to his K-1 career, Mike Bernardo made his professional boxing debut on 28 February 1993, against Delius Musemwa.

After a string of victories he won the vacant WBF title against Dan Jerling by defeating the Czechoslovakian fighter in the sixth round by KO.

In 2001, on 8 June, Mike Bernardo defended his WBF title against Peter McNeeley in Cape Town and knocked McNeely out in just 41 seconds.