Demetrius Havanas • Tribute

RIP “Golden Greek“ Demetrius Havanas 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿(Old School Kickboxing, full contact) He won more than 90 consecutive tournaments in forms and fighting competition, and won 13 grand championships in 1971. As a brown belt he racked up over a hundred and twenty five victories without a loss. His most memorable brown belt fight was against the undefeated brown belt, Bob Burbridge (Mike Stone and Chuck Norris’ students.) This victory was proof of his determination to win. Near the end of 1971 he received his black belt. From 1971-75 Havanas was consistently rated among America’s top 10 karate fighters. In 1975, entering full-contact kickboxing, he won the PKA U.S. Welterweight Championship. He amassed a record of 39-4 with 24 knockouts, and the Star System ranked him number-one world welterweight contender in 1980-81. A very muscular five foot five, the Greek perfected an explosive fighting style that consistently enabled him to outpoint men much taller than himself. No doubt partly to compensate for his lack of reach, Havanas took up body building, learning subsequently to punch with astonishing power. By 1980 the Greek had amassed a record of almost fifty fights. Up to that time, only Benny Urquidez had fought more often. Of his nearly fifty fights, Havanas lost only to Benny “The Jet“ Urquidez, that fight by only one point. He also lost an unpopular split decision to Earnest Hart Jr. His other defeats were to Chris Gallegos, and Marc Costello - at least one of which losses he later avenged. Beside being a great fighter, Greek was also noted as Texas’ best KickBoxing trainer. Training such champions as Billye Jackson, Raymond McCallum, Troy Dorsey, Cliff Thomas and Ismael Robles. Greek was fast pounding his way to the doorstep of the elusive world lightweight title. He was scheduled for a world title fight against champion Howard Jackson. He was killed on July 23, 1981 in an airplane accident. Havanas was posthumously inducted into the World Taekwondo Hall of Fame, the American Karate Black Belt Hall of Fame and the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame.