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Artem Levin
Russian kickboxer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Artem Valeryevich Levin (Russian: Артё́м Вале́рьевич Ле́вин; born December 8, 1986), also known as Artem "The Lion" Levin, is a Russian middleweight Muay Thai kickboxer fighting out of Prokopyevsk. He is the former Glory Middleweight Champion, as well as the former It's Showtime 77 MAX champion.[1] He was ranked as a top ten middleweight by Combat Press between September 2014 and March 2022, peaking at #1.[2][3][4]
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Career
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Early years
He is the captain of Russian National Muaythai Team. He's become Chairman of the Athletes Commission at IFMA since 2012.
Levin moved up to light heavyweight after the SportAccord Combat Games in 2010.
The much-anticipated fight between Levin and Simon Marcus was scheduled for the third time and set for December 21, 2012, in Ekaterinburg, Russia[5][6] and then February 23, 2013,[7] before eventually settling on March 15, 2013, at Lion Fight 9 in Las Vegas[8][9] with the inaugural Lion Fight Light Heavyweight Championship will be on the line.[10][11][12] Although a closely contested bout, it was Marcus' clinching skills that made the difference as he took the unanimous decision win.[13][14][15][16][17]
Glory
Moving up to 85 kg/187 lb, Levin defeated Sahak Parparyan via an extension round decision at Glory 7: Milan in Milan, Italy on April 20, 2013.[18][19][20][21]
He competed in the four man 85 kg/187 lb tournament at Glory 10: Los Angeles - Middleweight World Championship Tournament in Ontario, California, United States on September 28, 2013.[22][23][24] After cruising to a unanimous decision over Jason Wilnis in the semi-finals, he lost out to Joe Schilling in the final. He took round one but was knocked down in two when Schilling connected with a right overhand followed by a knee. The bout was ruled a draw after three rounds and went to an extension round in which Schilling scored a controversial knockdown and took the unanimous decision and the belt.[25][26][27]
He was scheduled to fight Hicham El Gaoui for the WKN light heavyweight title at Diamond Fight: Friendship in Chelyabinsk, Russia on December 13, 2013[28] but the match fell through.
Levin defeated Robert Thomas via UD at Glory 16: Denver in Broomfield, Colorado, US on April 3, 2014.[29][30]
Levin was expected to rematch Simon Marcus in a fight for the WMC World Light Heavyweight (175 lbs/79.379 kg) Championship at Monte Carlo Fighting Masters 2014 in Monte Carlo, Monaco on June 14, 2014.[31][32] The bout was cancelled, however, in order for fighters to compete at Glory 17: Los Angeles which was held a week later.[33]
Glory Middleweight Championship
Levin won the Glory 17: Los Angeles - Last Man Standing middleweight tournament and the inaugural Glory Middleweight Championship in Inglewood, California, on June 21, 2014, defeating Alex Pereira in the quarter-finals and Filip Verlinden in the semis, both by clear-cut unanimous decision, before rematching Joe Schilling in the final. He scored a knockdown with a spinning backfist in round one, but was docked a point by referee Al Wichgers for excessive clinching in three. He did enough to win, however, taking another UD, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-26 in favour of Levin.[34][35][36]
Levin had his first title defense against Simon Marcus during Glory 21: San Diego.[37] Levin successfully defended the title, as the fight ended in a majority draw.[38] Referee Marcos Rosales took a point away from Levin in the third round for excessive clinching, with Levin later stating: "The rules allow five-second clinch, active clinch. I am quick, I am hitting knees. This is not right, what they do. I do not like it."[39] Marcus was likewise unhappy with how the fight played out, stating: "This is bullshit, I won this fight."[40]
Briefly moving away from Glory, Levin fought Daniel Alexandru for the WKN World Cruiserweight Muay thai title. Levin won the fight in the second round, knocking Alexandru out in the second round with a knee strike.[41]
Controversial title loss
Levin's second Glory title defense was a rematch with Simon Marcus during Glory 27: Chicago.[42] In the first round of the fight, referee Al Wichgers gave Levin a ten count after Levin was pushed down. In the second and third round, the referee took points away from Levin for, what he deemed to be, excessive clinching. Levin decided to leave the ring in the third round. The referee's actions during the bout, and the end of the fight itself were highly controversial,[43][44][45] with one reporter claiming it was "one of the greatest embarrassments in the history of Glory, if not in the history of kickboxing."[46] Following this fight, Levin decided to leave Glory, with both parties agreeing to mutually terminate his contract.[47]
Late years
Levin won a unanimous decision against Ali El Ameri during Friendship Cup 11, after which Levin took a two year break from kickboxing. He returned in April 2018 to fight Igor Bugaenko during ACB KB 15: Grand Prix Kitek for the ACB KB Middleweight Title.[48] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[49] He would later be named the vice president of ACB kickboxing.[50]
In his next two fights, Levin scored decision wins over David Mirkovsky and Zhou Wei.[51]
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Titles
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Professional
- Absolute Championship Berkut
- 2018 ACB KB Middleweight Champion
- World Kickboxing Network
- 2015 WKN World Cruiserweight (-88.5 kg) Muay Thai Champion
- Glory
- WBC Muaythai
- 2011 World Boxing Council Muaythai World Light heavyweight (175 lbs/79.379 kg) champion (1 def.)
- It's Showtime
- 2010 It's Showtime 77 MAX World Champion (1 def.)
- The Contender Asia
- 2008 The Contender Asia Season 2 Russian qualifying tournament champion
- Battle of Champions
- 2008 Battle of Champions tournament World Champion
- World Muaythai Council
- 2007 WMC Intercontinental title at 76 kg
- 2007 WMC EMF European title at 76 kg
Amateur
- 2015 IFMA Russian Muaythai Champion
(86 kg) - 2015 IFMA Best Athlete of the Year
- 2014 IFMA Russian Muaythai Champion (86 kg)
- 2013 SportAccord World Combat Games Muaythai champion (81 kg)
- 2013 IFMA Russian Muaythai Champion (81 kg)
- 2012 IFMA World Muaythai champion (81 kg)
- 2012 IFMA European Muaythai champion (81 kg)
- 2011 IFMA European Muaythai champion (81 kg)
- 2010 SportAccord World Combat Games Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2010 IFMA European Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2009 IFMA European Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2008 Busan TAFISA World Games IFMA Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2007 IFMA World Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2006 IFMA World Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2006 WMF World Muaythai champion (75 kg)
- 2005 WMF World Muaythai champion (67 kg)
- 2004 IFMA European Muaythai champion (67 kg)
- 2003–2011 IFMA Russian Muaythai Champion
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Professional kickboxing record
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Boxing record
See also
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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