Don "The Dragon" Wilson (born September
10, 1954 in Illinois) is an American champion kickboxer and actor. He is
most famous for his acting roles in action-adventure films, including
nine titles in Roger Corman's Bloodfist series. His first film was
Corman's Killer Instinct.
Wilson had a long and successful career in the ring. He was perhaps the
best known and most successful kickboxer of his era. He was one of the
very few American kickboxers of the time (the 1980s) to travel to
Thailand and compete in Muay Thai under local rules. These rules
differed from the kickboxing rules prevalent in the West at the time, in
that American kickboxing generally allowed only kickboxing above the
waist, together with boxing techniques. Muay Thai, on the other hand,
allowed then as now leg kicks, elbows and knees (delivered usually
during a clinch).
Often Western kickboxing of the era was undertaken with leg guards,
forbidden in Thailand where the fighters would have had a lifetime of
conditioning their shins. As a result, most Westerners facing Thais were
defeated by unfamiliarity with Thai leg-checking techniques and by the
superior conditioning of the Thais. Seen in that context, Wilson's
record of two defeats in Thailand on points is more credible, as is his
decision to fight in Thailand in the first place.
Wilson won a total of 11 World Titles with several Sanctioning bodies
that included the IKF, WKA, KICK, ISKA, STAR and the PKO. He won his IKF
(www.IKFKickboxing.com) FCR Cruiserweight World Title on May 15, 1999 in
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA, when he defeated Dick Kimber. (Lynn,
Massachusetts, USA PRO: 23-3/21, AM: 25-0/25 5'9" 197 ) At the end of
the 3rd round Wilson came alive and exploded with a flurry that
eventually knocked Kimber to the floor motionless. Referee Dan Stell
counted Kimber out on the floor, a count that went into the round break.
Kimber never stood during the count.
Having never been challenged for his title, Wilson Voluntarily Retired
it to move down to the Light Heavyweight Division where he eventually
retired from fighting a few years later.
Wilson was also a fight commentator and interviewer in many of the early
UFC events. He stated several times that he would be willing to fight in
the UFC himself if enough fans requested it, but it never happened.
Some Movies to his credit include: Futurekick, Bloodfist 1-9, Ring of
Fire 1 & 2, Out for Blood, Operation Cobra, Blackbelt, Cyber Tracker 1 &
2, Sci Fighters, Redemption, and Capitol Conspiracy.
Married well known Film and Television Makeup artist Kathleen Karridene
in 1996. They have three children together; Jonathan, Drayden, and
Aubrianna.
Blackbelt Magazine's 1984
Full Contact Fighter of the Year
