A.J. Verel

A.J. Verel (born March 2) is an American kickboxer, martial artist, actor, stuntman and inductee into the Pro Martial Arts/MMA Hall of Fame. Verel is a former Light Heavyweight & Middleweight sport karate and kickboxing Champion. In 1992 he won the World Kickboxing Association's (WKA) Middleweight title. Verel holds black belts in five different martial arts and as co-captain of the U.S. National Martial Arts and N.A.C.K. (North American Champions Karate) Demonstration Teams won two gold medals.

Verel returned to the Original Toughman Contest in 2000 as the shows referee for the FOX televised reality show titled Toughman Contest Championship Series which ran for five seasons on the FX Network. Verel is active working on and appearing in movies, training fighters and producing televised events. Verel is the Chairman for the Official "Pro Martial Arts Hall of Fame & Museum" Chartered by New York States Education Department. In June 2010 Verel was named the United States Delegate for the 'World Kickboxing League" (WKL) for all Ring Sports along with Ambassadors Rick "The Jet" Rufus and Don "The Dragon" Wilson.

Verel holds degrees in Psychology, Business, and Education.

Verel holds black belts in five different styles of martial arts and has been training since the age of 9. Verel was a member of the U.S. / Canadian (Can/Am) Tae Kwon Do demonstration team and the N.A.C.K. Team, which won two Gold Medals in 1988 and 1992. Like fellow kickboxers "Joe Lewis", "Troy Dorsey", "Benny Urquidez", and "Rick Roufus", Verel has a strong classical boxing background. Verel is credited with fellow Hall of Famers Joe Lewis, "Bill Wallace, and Troy Dorsey, for winning both World Sport Karate and Kickboxing Titles in the same year.

Verel won two consecutive boxing competitions in the Original "Toughman Contest".

Verel is credited with winning four World Titles in two separate weight classes. The "[World Kickboxing Association]" (WKA) and "[World Kickboxing Organization]" (WKO) World Middleweight Titles, and the "[World Kickboxing Council]" (WKC) and "World Kickboxing Leagues" (WKL) Light Heavyweight Titles.

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