Glory, formerly Glory World Series, is an international kickboxing promotion company founded in 2012 by Glory Sports International Pte Ltd. partners Pierre Andurand, Scott Rudmann, and Total Sports Asia. The company has its headquarters in Singapore and international offices in Denver, United States, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Video Glory (kickboxing)
History
When K-1, historically the world's premier kickboxing organization, began suffering from extreme financial difficulties in 2011, Total Sports Asia, TSA CEO Marcus Luer, London-based French investor Pierre Andurand, and Scott Rudmann of Nectar Capital attempted to buy the brand. When K-1 was instead sold to Gunil "Mike" Kim and EMCOM Entertainment Inc., Pierre Andurand, TSA, and the other investors decided to start a brand new label and kickboxing organisation called Glory and bought United Glory, Golden Glory, and It's Showtime in order to secure a top event production team and to secure all the top fighters in the world. Pierre Andurand was named Chairman and Scott Rudmann was named vice-chairman.
The name "Glory" has caused some confusion to arise as to Golden Glory's role with the new organization. Glory has made it clear that Golden Glory, like the It's Showtime organization, was bought and absorbed, and not the other way around. A number of people formerly involved with It's Showtime, the Golden Glory team and the United Glory event became Glory consultants, though Simon Rutz, the founder and former owner of It's Showtime, has departed the company.
GSI signed most of the world's top kickboxers such as Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt, Gokhan Saki, Daniel Ghi??, Albert Kraus, Giorgio Petrosyan, and Yoshihiro Sato.
Maps Glory (kickboxing)
Business
Glory Sports International has its offices in the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, and the US. The company includes a mix of entrepreneurs and senior level executives from the worlds of finance, sports marketing, television, technology, and martial arts fighting. The company's investors include Yao Capital, the investment arm of former Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, cable TV company Liberty Global, and TwinFocus Capital Partners of Boston.
In November 2012, Glory entered into a partnership with the ONE Championship mixed martial arts promotion to share fighters. Currently, they are only signing ecclusive fighter contracts.
In February 2013, Glory announced that former WWE Executive VP Andrew Whitaker had been hired as the global CEO of Glory Sports International. In August 2014, Glory announced that Jon J. Franklin had been appointed as new CEO of Glory Sports International. In January 2018, Glory announced that Franklin had moved to the role of Chief Development Officer, and former UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik had been hired as the new CEO.
Media coverage
In June 2013, after having an inaugural first event in the US in New York (Glory 9: New York) on June 22, 2013, Spike TV signed a multi-year agreement to broadcast Glory kickboxing events. The broadcast deal with Spike TV was extended in May 2014 to cover 2015. In February 2016, Glory announced a new multi-year deal with ESPN. In 2017, Glory initiated partnerships with the UFC for events on pay-per-view and on UFC Fight Pass.
Events
Champions
Current champions
Glory Heavyweight Championship
+95 kg (+209.4 lb)
Glory Light Heavyweight Championship
-95 kg (-209.4 lb)
Glory Middleweight Championship
-85 kg (-187.4 lb)
Glory Welterweight Championship
-77 kg (-169.8 lb)
Glory Lightweight Championship
-70 kg (-154.3 lb)
Glory Featherweight Championship
-65 kg (-143.3 lb)
Glory Women's Super Bantamweight Championship
-55.3 kg (-122 lb)
Tournament champions
Contender Tournament champions
Qualification Tournament winners
Road to Glory Tournament champions
Notable fighters
Featherweight (-65 kg/143.3 lb)
Lightweight (-70 kg/154.3 lb)
Welterweight (-77 kg/169.8 lb)
Middleweight (-85 kg/187.4 lb)
Light Heavyweight (-95 kg/209.4 lb)
Heavyweight (+95 kg/209.4 lb)
See also
- Golden Glory
References
External links
- Official website
- Glory on Twitter
- Glory on Facebook
- Glory on Instagram
- Glory's channel on YouTube
Source of article : Wikipedia
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