On May 5, the World Kickboxing League (WKL) will be hosting a championship in Richmond to determine the amateur BC heavyweight Muay Thai kickboxing title, and local fighter Theo (The Greek Beast) Kontekakis is all but certain of the outcome.
The 6’5” and 215-pound fighter will be competing against reigning champ Anodai Dakwa. “He is the champion but not for long, not after Saturday,” said Kontekakis, speaking from Olga’s Hair Stories in Gibsons, where he works as a hair stylist with his mother.
This will be the 19-year-old’s biggest fight of his career to date. “Theo is an incredible athlete for his size and his age. We bring in a lot of fighters for Theo and all the heavyweights – he just kind of plays with them,” said his coach, former MMA fighter David Hollet. Kontekakis has been training out of Hollett’s Kickboxing Academy at the Sunshine Coast Boxing Club for two years.
Kontekakis also competes as a boxer and won a charity competition in Kelowna in 2017 after knocking out his competitor in the first round.
He attributes his skill as a boxer to his success in the kickboxing ring. “That’s why I win most of my fights, because I’m more arms. But I also throw legs,” he said. Hollett attributes Kontekakis’ success to his speed, power and footwork that allows him to create angles.
In the lead-up to the fight, Kontekakis has been sparring in Vancouver against WKL champion and three-time Canadian Muay Thai kickboxing champion Adam Blanchett. He’s also been sticking to a strenuous training schedule of 5 a.m. workouts and post-salon training until 9 p.m., six days a week.
“It’s kind of hard,” Kontekakis said of the balance. “I love the art and science of both of [the jobs],” he said, noting sometimes the worlds collide when he shows up to cut hair with a black eye.
Kontekakis, who is aiming to turn pro, said he is driven by the chance to be remembered as a sporting legend.
“I don’t want to fight for the money, I want to fight for GLORY,” he said. GLORY is the premiere stand-up professional sports league, comparable to the NHL.
