Kevin Harper Retires

Kevin Harper, managed by Dan Green Promotions, has unfortunately had to retire due to recurring injury.

Kevin Harper retires as one of the most experienced fighters UK fighters ever with over 70 fights to his name and having held both the WKA and WAKO-pro world titles.
He had a long career fighting some of the biggest names in the sport such as Dida, Ashley Guishard, Mourad Sari and it is unfortunate that injury prevented him fighting some of the big name opportunities like Drago that came later in his career. We sih both him and his wife all the very best for the future.


Personal statement from Kevin Harper:
"After participating in the sport that I have fallen in love with for the past 17 years, I find myself in the unpleasant position of having to retire. The last knee surgery I had over summer has forced me into a position I had not anticipated or contemplated. Retirement!!!!

The surgery was to remove cartilage on my troubled right knee. This was operation number 5 on that particular knee and more tissue was removed from the medial side. As a result, bone now grates on bone and following any severe and prolonged exercise I am in considerable discomfort. I knew this day would come but to be totally honest, I was not prepared for it.

At 32 years of age, my time left in the sport was only short, but I felt capable of and had the hunger to stay for at least another 2 years; something my wife was not too happy with. Following the surgery, my wife now at least gets her wish and I have to bow out of a sport that I have given my all in.

My greatest moment came on the 2nd February, 2002. (02,02,02, great date to remember). At that moment, I achieved an ambition that had driven me for years and I knew that this day would stay with me for the remainder of my life. The opponent was Gultekin Urgan and he was a defending champion, a fighter who 2 years earlier had beaten Pele Nathan. I was not fighting for a vacant belt and that night produced the performance of my career to take his belt from him and become the new WKA World Super Welterweight Champion. I am only disappointed that I never got the chance to see that fight as the SKY TV crew never got paid so never released the fight for viewing.
A second title came when in 2003 I fought Steven Wakeling for a Vacant WAKO-PRO full rules belt. Unfortunately for both of us, the fight finished early and despite me wanting to get one back on Steven from our 2001 meeting where I sustained an awful cut, I felt sorry for him having a cruel blow dealt to him in the form of a terrible break to his leg. I am glad to say he has made a full recovery and am sure he will go on to become an international superstar in Muay Thai.

I have been blessed to achieve the ultimate realisation of my dreams and look back now in disbelief really at how I managed to get to con the vast majority of people in to thinking that I was an outstanding fighter. I don’t really hit that hard, don’t have power, bit portly around the middle and still made a name for myself. The fat kid from Wigan fools them all. Lol !!!!!!!

I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years and has given me either positive experiences or guidance. I also have to apologise to two individuals who I have chosen to badmouth in the past, from the bravery of a pseudonym on ‘Ax’ I hurled slanderous comments in a bid to wind people up and generally shit stir; and to this end I am deeply ashamed. Neil Holden and Bill Judd please accept my most sincere apology.

The people who I need to publicly thank are vast. Firstly to Dave Jackson who was my first and returning coach following several years with Rob Sharpley. It was him who introduced me to the sport and with him who I achieved my early successes. 4 British Titles and a Commonwealth title. Thank you Dave for your guidance.

To Ian Ledson who was a great fighter and pulled me through the worst period of my life when I ruptured my cruciate ligament that created my future knee problems. It was Ian who would drag me out of bed in the morning, to go to the gym and train when all I wanted to do was sleep off my hangover and go out again on the beer.

To Warren Brown who is a great friend, was a great fighter and is an average actor. Learn your lines Brown owl.

To Gavin Sterritt who has been my friend for many years. I went to his wedding and his daughter’s christening yet we have drifted apart since he moved back to Dave’s. I was disappointed that he didn’t come to my wedding and when he changed gyms again wouldn’t return my calls. Gavin, you are a top man and I respect you enormously; but don’t know why you fell out with me.

To Pele Nathan who was influential in my rise to the top of the sport. Pele took an average bunch of fighters in myself and Gavin and an already accomplished fighter in Warren and improved us beyond our wildest imaginations. To Pele, Thank you. To the fighters down at Pele’s, Mary Hart, Steve Holt, Ashley Guishard, The Jones boys and Trish a sincere thanks. To Pele himself for the best sparring in the world ever!!!!! You have all contributed to me as a fighter and I am forever indebted.

A special thank you to Frankie Hudders who has as much Thai boxing talent as anyone I have ever met. An astonishingly tough man and when focussed, as good as anyone on the planet. A great fighter and a very funny man.

To my friend and resident stand up comedian Vincent Shoreman. A brilliant coach and a hilarious guy. He has taught me a lot and cares so much about his fighters. Vinny, I cannot thank you enough and you will always be my friend. My thank you is short, but words can’t express how much you have done for me.

To Dean White, Mike Tobin and all the fighters in Dewsbury. I remember coming down that first time to train and Shorty nearly ripping my neck off. Dale White is a precociously talented fighter and could be the on a par with Ronnie Green as the best the UK has ever produced. Keep on giving it to them Zippy, you are an inspiration.

Tobes is a pure gentlemen and one of the nicest guys I have ever met. A real salt of the earth bloke who would do anything for you. Liam Racktoo is another future star and another diamond. ‘Keep on cleaning Benson’.
Danny Brown is a great guy, phenomenal fighter and someone who I love to watch fight. Massive respect to everyone at Dean’s and apologies if I have missed anyone out.
My final thank you to the people at Dean’s is Dean himself. A man who knows an infinite amount on Muay Thai and a man who I respect enormously. Thanks Dean for the training, the advice and the times you had me in fits of laughter calling Shorty for eating rice pudding for breakfast or beans and lard. A great coach and a great bloke.


To all the boys at Vinny’s, Dondo and Adam, Leroy ‘kneeroy’ Margado, Richard Barnhill (the gayest and hardest hitting fighter I know), Danny ‘the brain’ Peers. You are a bunch of C**ts and I never want to speak to you again. Only joking, You are all amazing guys who I love to bits.
KESTREL FOR A KNAVE!!!!!!!!!!

Respect to two people who have represented me in my career, Paul Hennassy who has managed me for a large portion and got me some good fights. Thanks Paul. To Dan Green who is a good friend even though he is a cockernee wan*er.

To my friend and mentor Keith Mayer, a phenomenal mind coach and a ‘top man’. Make a great day Keith. Lol. To Martin Cullen my strength coach who has made lifting weights something that I used to think as pointless, to something that I believe is the cornerstone of any top fighter’s regime.

To my family and friends who have supported me all over the country for years now. I am not a massive ticket seller, but the few who regularly come and shout your support. Especially my dad who waits until it goes deathly quiet before the first bell to shout "IF ANYONE CAN, KEVIN CAN!!!!" Thanks for the embarrassment.
My final thank you goes to my wife, who is pregnant with out first child and has supported me more, and added to me in more ways than I would care to imagine. I love you and thank you for everything.

I hope that my presence in the sport has added to it and hope that people think of me in a positive light. I have tried to live my life and conduct myself in an honourable way and apart from my stirring on ‘Ax’ several years ago, I hope to have been a positive role model to others.

My final thank you goes to Ronnie Green. It was watching him as a youngster live and on video who really inspired me. He is in my opinion the best the UK has ever produced, but hope the talent on display in the UK Muay Thai scene has the drive and potential to eclipse the great man.

Thank you for reading this short epitaph of a boxer and hope you weren’t too bored.

Yours humbly,

Kevin Harper

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