Sherman Bergman

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Sherman Bergman (nicknamed "Big Train" for his locomotive-like fighting style) was a professional kickboxer based in South Florida during the sport's "Golden Age", the mid 1980s; noted for his "Sling-Shot Punch", and a long string of first round knockouts victories. Though never world rated, Bergman, never-the-less, developed into a cult figure for hardcore kickboxing fans.

Contents

[edit] Tale of the Tape

Sherman(BigTrain)Bergman
Sherman(BigTrain)Bergman
  • Name: Sherman Bergman
  • Alias: Big Train
  • Birthplace: Miami Beach, Florida
  • Hometown: Miami Beach, Florida
  • Height: 5 feet 10 inches.
  • Weight: 120-185lbs.
  • Stance: Southpaw
  • Trainers: Hank Bergman, Jose Maceo, Eddie Ludlow, Gary Ritter,Dr.Isaac Sved,MD, and Beau Jack
  • Cornerman: Benjamin (Evil Eye) Finkle
  • Kickboxing Record: 53-6 (53 knockouts)
  • Boxing Record: 17-4 (17 knockouts)

[edit] Biography

Sherman Bergman is a colorful footnote in the history of South Florida kickboxing. A Miami Beach native, Bergman rubbed elbows with the likes of world champions, movie stars, sports reporters, models, and legendary boxing trainers and cornermen, in a ring career that spanned four decades.

As a youth he dreamed of a career as a boxing reporter. While a student at Miami Beach Senior High School he was a sports writer for his school's award-winning newspaper, The Beachcomber. As a freshman, he started covering the local boxing scene as a reporter for the Glove, a boxing newspaper published by J. Lawrence Bradley and edited by Mark W. Moore.

However, Bergman's life took a turn in another direction when he decided to enter the ring. He trained at the 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach, and the Elizabeth Virrick Gym in Coconut Grove, under the watchful eye of his father, Hank Bergman--a former amateur boxer. The elder Bergman helped his son develop a peculiar style of fighting in which he pulled his punches straight back beyond his shoulder blades--releasing the punch like a sling-shot. Thus the punch was called the Sling-Shot Punch.

After scoring a series of first round knockouts, Bergman earned the nickname " Big Train" for his locomotive-like fighting style. However, due to his "peculiar" style and southpaw stance, he found it difficult to find opponents.

At the 5th Street Gym, Bergman sparred with the likes of boxing hall-of-famer Ken Norton, heavyweight contender Rodney Bobick, and future movie star Mickey Rourke. During 1976-1977, the legendary Benjamin "Evil Eye" Finkle added some additional color to Bergman's career by working his corner for a few fights.

Bergman went on to graduate from Florida International University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. However, instead of working the 9-5 route, he decided to dedicate himself to his fistic career. By the time Bergman entered the 1981 South Florida Golden Gloves, his record was 17-1 (17 knockouts), and his trainers were former professional boxers Jose Maceo, Eddie Ludlow, and Gary Ritter.

On February 21, 1981, 600 customers watched Bergman's bout with state welterweight champion Larry Byrd at the South Florida Golden Gloves in Coconut Grove, Florida, in the 147 pound Open Division. At the bell, Bergman opened up with a flurry, but Byrd responded by decking him twice, and the referee stopped the fight over Bergman's protest. Time: 33 seconds. The defeat sidetracked Bergman's desire for a professional boxing career. Even though he received training from former world lightweight champion Beau Jack, Bergman only had two boxing matches in the next two years, and lost them both.

Sherman Bergman began working as an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher for Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 1981. He became involved in the growing sport of American Kickboxing. He fought future world lightheavyweight kickboxing champion and actor Gary Daniels, in Daniels's debut match in the United States. Bergman scrapped his professional boxing plans, and under his father's directions, went into kickboxing.

Though never ranked, Bergman was a highly touted kickboxing prospect. He racked up a series of first-round knockouts-- defeating Thailand's Morsak Muangsu in 23 seconds, then the undefeated Alejandro DasCola (22-0-0) in 19 seconds, and Wilver " Rio " Johnson in 14 seconds. Barry Harrell of Official Karate Magazine wrote that, after compiling a record of 12-1, with 12 first-round knockouts, "Sherman (Big Train) Bergman of Miami seems to be one of the best new fighters on his way to the top." But Bergman failed to live up to his hype, and his title aspirations ended after he was knocked out by Carlos Andino, Mario Wilfredos, and Johnny "Rebelde" Portilla. In 1991, Bergman announced his retirement from kickboxing.

After a five-year lay-off, Bergman returned to kickboxing and scored a first-round knockout over Brazil's Bernardo Jua. He continued to fight on and off for the next ten years.

In January 2004, Bergman was hospitalized with a kidney ailment, and he was urged by family and friends to quit the ring. Yet, four months later, he got back into good enough shape to knock out three opponents. But any hopes he had of continuing his ring career were detrailed in 2006 by a slip and fall accident in his apartment, breaking two ribs. A short time later he suffered a severe back injury, and his fighting days were over.

Bergman studied acting for a few years under famed drama instructor Jay W. Jensen, and had a brief acting career in a few motion pictures filmed in South Florida as an uncredited extra. His last acting role was in 2002 when he appeared in the Lois Brooks directed stage-play 10,000 Baskets.

Bergman has continued his educational career and is currently in his third decade of teaching. He earned a Master's Degree in English from Nova University in South Florida. Also, he works at the same school as former South Florida professional middleweight boxer Carl Starling. He is active in numerous community service activities in South Florida, such as the Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, United Way, the Cultural Arts Society of Miami-Dade County, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and feeding the homeless. He also tried his hand at martial arts training, and three of his students--Jeronimo Solis, Martin Rebollo, and Derwin Portilla--all won local karate championships.

[edit] Sources

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  • Miami Herald, Sunday, January 30, 2005, Neighbors, page 37: LEARNING ENGLISH.
  • Miami Herald, January 2, 2005, Neighbors MB, page 44: REMEMBERING.
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  • The Beachcomber, Vol.48, No.4, Friday, December 12, 1975, page 7: SUCCESS LOOMS FOR TIDE SWIMMERS, by Sherman Bergman (Beachcomber Staff).
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[edit] Pro Kickboxing record

  • Total Bouts: 59
  • Won: 53
  • Knockouts: 53
  • Lost: 6

[edit] First-round knockout streak

Date Opponent
7/4/76 Wilver(Rio)Johnson
9/1/80 Herman Ford
12/31/80 Mac Burgess
9/7/81 Robert James
12/30/81 Anthony Maradi
1/4/82 Bradford Beasley
2/15/83 Anton Machado
3/17/83 Randolph Cole
4/1/83 S.Q. Allen
5/1/83 Raff Garcia
5/7/83 Michael Buck
5/21/83 Antonio Atkins
5/31/83 Toshi Ryu
6/6/83 Alberto Almonti

[edit] External links

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