Frank Muñoz


Frank Muñoz is a Spanish heavyweight kickboxer, who has competed in the SUPERKOMBAT Fighting Championship, where he is a former 2013 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix Tournament Champion. He is also the former WAKO-Pro K-1 European champion.

Biography and career

Frank Muñoz was adopted by Menorcan family and spent his first days on the island. He started kickboxing in Barcelona in 2005 at Esportrogent gym with former fullcontact champion Xavi Moya. He had been inspired after watching Remy Bonjasky fight on television. In 2008 he moved to Amsterdam and joined Vos Gym. He was trained by Ivan Hippolyte and had famous sparring partners like Mirko Filipović, Remy Bonjasky. After that he joined Chakuriki Gym in 2010, trained by Thom Harinck alongside Le Banner, Braddock Silva, Peter Aerts and Hesdy Gerges he faced some top fighters.
He was Spanish Muay thai professional champion, in 2010 he fought Brice Guidon for his WPMF European Heavyweight Muaythai title and lost the fight by split decision. In the same year he became Amsterdam fight club heavyweight tournament champion defeating Slovenian Jasmin Bečirović and Thiago Martina in the final. Later that year he had his debut for the world top promotion It's Showtime and lost to Rico Verhoeven by decision.
In 2011 he participated Enfusion: Quest for honor tournament. It was a TV Show featuring 15 fighters that live, train and fight together. During the show he defeated Sahak Parparyan and Redouan Cairo in SUPERKOMBAT, some of the best -95 kg fighters and went to the final tournament in Prague where he defeated Wendell Roche and loss to domestic Ondřej Hutník in the finals.
In 2012 he fought in a tournament for WKN kickboxing GP and lost in the finals to one of the best French kickboxers Stéphane Susperregui after extra round. Then he fought Steve McKinnon for WBC Muaythai Super Cruiserweight World title and surprisingly lost the fight in the first round by overhand right knockout after only 16 seconds.
On October 20, 2012, he became WAKO-Pro K-1 European champion defeating Toni Čatipović from Croatia after five rounds. In the second round Čatipović caught him with few elbows but without any cut that would hinder Muñoz to take victory. Later Čatipović was few times at the edge of knockout but managed to Finnish the fight, that clearly belonged to Muñoz.
He was late replacement in a non-tournament bout at the K-1 World Grand Prix FINAL in Zagreb on March 15, 2013 and he lost to Mladen Brestovac via unanimous decision.
He competed in the tournament at SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix 10 in Craiova, Romania on May 18, 2013. After defeating Nikolaj Falin via unanimous decision in the semi-finals, he lost a controversial unanimous decision to Sebastian Ciobanu following an extension round in the final.
As much of the kickboxing community felt that Muñoz was very solid against Ciobanu, SUPERKOMBAT officials decided to award him with a wildcard spot in the SUPERKOMBAT Grand Prix 2013.
He defeated Damien Garcia by unanimous decision in a rather lackluster fight at the K-1 World MAX 2013 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in Majorca, Spain on September 14, 2013.
He faced Muamer Tufekčić on SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix 2013 Final Elimination in quarter finals. In second round Muñoz sent a low blow and referee counted to Tufekčić, at the end of the round Muamer was also deducted a point for clinching. In third round Muamer scored a knockdown but could not Finnish the fight and Muñoz won by judges split decision.
He won the SUPERKOMAT World Grand Prix 2013 Final in Galați, Romania on December 21, 2013, beating D'Angelo Marshall by unanimous decision in the semi-finals before taking an extension round unanimous decision over Redouan Cairo in the final.
Graduated in International Sports Management & Business from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam class 2018.
Coached as a professional fighter by the greatest Dutch kickboxing pioneers such as Ivan Hyppolite, Mousid Akhamrane and godfather Thom Harinck, Frank absorbed the best of each coach and created a unique Kickboxing training style.
During his university internship in Chicago, he was hired as a professional sparring partner and standout strategy coach by Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Daniel Cormier. Frank helped Cormier in various fighting camps, eventually becoming the UFC light heavyweight championship in Boston. After training at the American Kickboxing Academy under head coach Javier Mendez, Frank's passion and willpower allow him to study the program in other prestigious American gyms such as Couture MMA. Kings MMA under master Rafael Cordeiro.
After the success in America, working with elite fighters and giving a Dutch kickboxing seminar tour, Frank was part of the Dutch Bellator Champion Gegard Mousasi team. The Netherlands.
The Swedish UFC greatest fighter of all time, Alexander Gustafsson, also hired Frank Munoz as a sparring partner and standout coach specialist at All Stars Gym Stockholm. One of the best mixed martial arts gymnastics in the UK London Shoot Fighters ask Frank Munoz training services for different fighters like the star Michael Venom Page.
All this experience collected Frank and not only developed a training system with the best of the best gyms in the world, Frank debuted in MMA with a technical knockout victory in Austria in 2019.
Frank currently works for the sports department of the Amsterdam gementee as a Martial Artist instructor, and several spot schools in Amsterdam. Frank is an active MMA athlete. Frank Muñoz, from Menorca, fights for survival after suffering a stroke
The well-known kickboxer from Ciutadella recounts how he survived a stroke and how he "has returned to work without physical or cognitive limitations."
Frank Muñoz has opened his heart in a letter he wrote on Facebook to explain the ordeal he has gone through in recent months and how he has managed to recover and return to normal. The well-known kickboxer from Ciutadella, who returned to Menorca a few years ago after living in Amsterdam, recounts that he suffered a stroke that required him to be transferred and undergo emergency surgery in Mallorca.
"Last November 21st, while dropping my daughter off at school, I suffered a stroke. Right after saying goodbye to her, I started to feel the right side of my body failing," he explains.
"The quick action of the incredible team at @consolaciociutadella was key. They happened to be conducting a first aid training course." They laid me on the floor and activated the emergency medical protocol."
Frank Muñoz describes how "I prepared myself to die. I felt no pain or fear. Only anger and a deep sadness when I thought of my 3-year-old daughter, my wife, and my parents." He was transferred to the Mateu Orfila Hospital in Maó and from there to Son Espases Hospital by helicopter for emergency surgery: "They operated to unblock a clot that was preventing oxygen from reaching my brain. The operation went well."
"When I woke up in the ICU, I couldn't speak or move the right side of my body. The neurologist told me I would need more than a year of rehabilitation, although without any lasting effects. I was devastated. I depended on help for everything. The life I knew had vanished."
Nevertheless, Muñoz explains, he began his recovery "as if it were a battle." And today, just seven weeks later, I'm back to my normal life and have returned to work without any physical or cognitive limitations. "Thank you to everyone in Ciutadella for respecting my privacy during these almost two months. Life is fragile. And also a gift," concludes Frank Muñoz, who has won his battle against death

Honours and awards

On January 24 after winning SUPERKOMAT World Grand Prix 2013 Final he was awarded with Silver Flabiol and won the "Ciutadellencs de s’Any 2013" award, becoming Sportsman of the year and the Honorary citizen of hometown Ciutadella de Menorca. On April 17, 2014, Frank Muñoz was awarded in Menorca at the I Gala de l'es port menorqui with the Gold distinction as outstanding athlete 2013.

Titles

Professional

  • 2013 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix 2013 tournament champion
  • 2013 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix II tournament runner up
  • 2012 WAKO-Pro K-1 European champion -94.2 kg
  • 2012 WKN kickboxing GP runner up
  • 2011 Enfusion Quest for honor tournament runner up -95 kg
  • 2010 Amsterdam fight club heavyweight tournament champion
  • 2009 K-1 Spain Battles 2009 tournament runner up
  • Spanish muaythai pro champion

Amateur

  • 2010 Spanish Olympic boxing championships
  • 2008 Spanish Olympic boxing championships
  • 2008 W.A.K.O. European Championships in Oporto, Portugal −91 kg