Type Private Founded 2012 | Industry Kickboxing promotion | |
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Headquarters 30, Raffles Place, Level 17, Chevron House, Singapore Key people Pierre Andurand (chairman, majority shareholder)
Jon J. Franklin (CEO)
Scott Rudmann (director)
Cor Hemmers (matchmaker) Owner Glory Sports International Pte Ltd. Founders Pierre Andurand, Scott Rudmann Profiles | ||
Glory and 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.
Contents
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, Marcus Luer, and Scott Rudmann derived the name 'GLORY' for the new brand from Golden Glory.
The name GLORY has caused some confusion to arise as to Golden Glory's role with the new organization. GLORY has clarified that Golden Glory, like the It's Showtime organization, was bought and absorbed by the investment team headed by Pierre Andurand, 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 Ghiţă, Albert Kraus, Giorgio Petrosyan, Yoshihiro Sato, and Pat Barry.
Business
GLORY Sports International has its offices in UK, Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and US. The company includes unprecedented mix of accomplished entrepreneurs and senior level executives from the diverse worlds of finance, sports marketing, television, technology and martial arts fighting.
In November 2012, GLORY entered into a partnership with the ONE Championship mixed martial arts promotions to share fighters.
In February 2013, GLORY announced former WWE Executive VP Andrew Whitaker to the position of the global CEO of Glory Sports International.
In June 2013, after having an inaugural first event in USA at NY (Glory 9: New York) on June 22, 2013, SPIKE TV signed a multi-year agreement to broadcast GLORY kickboxing events.
In August 2014, GLORY announced Jon Franklin has been appointed as new CEO of Glory Sports International, after broadcast deal extended with Spike TV in May 2014 to cover 2015.
In February 2016, GLORY announced a new multi-year deal with ESPN.
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)