Mike Bernardo boxer

Mike Bernardo boxer
bouts
13
won
11
lost
1
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1993-02-28
Height
6′ 4″/193cm
Reach
-
Age
42
Born
1969-07-28
Death
2012-02-14
Nationality
South Africa

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Michael Shawn Bernardo (28 July 1969 – 14 February 2012) was a South African kickboxer and boxer from Cape Town. Bernardo was known as Beru-chan in Japan, where he has taken part in K-1 World GPs since 1994. He holds notable wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Andy Hug, Francisco Filho, Branko Cikatic, Stan Longinidis, Gary Goodridge and three consecutive wins over K-1 legend Peter Aerts.Mike Bernardo was of Italian and English heritage and was born in Fishhoek near Cape Town on 28 July 1969. His surname was actually Barnardo, but most people knew him as Bernardo. When he was younger, bullies often picked on him and beat him up. Bernardo started with Kyokushin to deal with his bullies: "I started Karate when I was, 12, 13 years old. The reason why I started was, because as a youngster I was quite tall but not strong. 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. I took up martial arts lessons and went back to school and when they started to pick on me again and try to beat me up, I beat them all up."Being a keen all-round sportsman, Mike Bernardo tried to do as many sports as he could. Besides karate, he started surfing when he was six, played numerous other sports but the one that he liked to play the most was rugby. After he kept getting sent off for fighting, Bernardo knew he had to make the transition from rugby to fighting sports.It was under the guidance of former boxing champion Steve Kalakoda where Mike Bernardo received his kickboxing training. He met Kalakoda during his compulsory military service where the latter worked as a physical training instructor in the navy. Bernardo quickly established a fearsome reputation as a heavy-hitting knockout fighter. After fights in South Africa, Italy and Russia Bernardo got invited through one of England's promoters to fight in K-1. He made his debut in the K-1 World Grand Prix 1995 against Andy Hug. Bernardo pulled off the shocking win via third round stoppage.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
2001-06-08 Peter McNeeley WLLWWL Grand West Casino, Cape Town WIN
Technical knockout
2000-07-30 Justin Fortune LWLWWL Nagoya DRAW
2000-05-12 Daniel Jerling WLLLLL City Sporthall, Szekszard WIN
Technical knockout
2000-01-21 Scott Conner WWWWWL DePaul Alumni Hall, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1996-03-31 Juan Quintana LLLLLL Sullivan Gymnasium, Portland WIN
Points
1995-12-02 Alberto Toribio Coman DLWW Wynberg Military Sports Centre, Cape Town WIN
Corner retirement
1995-10-09 Hector Fernandez debut Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana WIN
KO
1994-11-27 Themba Msweli WLLLLL Goodwood Showgrounds, Cape Town WIN
KO
1994-05-18 Nzuzo Manyube WLWLWL Athlone Civic Centre, Cape Town WIN
Technical knockout
1993-11-06 Matthews Zulu L Superbowl, Sun City WIN
Points
1993-07-25 Graham Makhazi LLL Wittebome Civic Centre, Cape Town WIN
KO
1993-04-06 Anton Nel WLDL Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal LOST
Technical knockout
1993-02-28 Delius Musemwa LL Athlone Civic Centre, Cape Town WIN
KO

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