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Sherman Bergman Bio
Sherman Bergman (nicknamed "Big Train" for his locomotive-like fighting style) is a retired Florida boxer and kickboxer who had the unique experience of fighting Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mickey Rourke, and Gary Daniels, all who went on to have successful careers in acting. Bergman is also credited with being the only American kickboxer to have fought and knocked down Jean-Claude Van Damme in a sanctioned match.
Amateur Boxing
Sherman Bergman began his amateur boxing career in 1972. He was a member of the Amateur Athletic Union,the Florida Gold Coast Association, the Golden Gloves Association of America and the USA Amateur Boxing Federation.
Bergman trained at the 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach, and the Elizabeth Varrick Gym in Coconut Grove,Florida. He was trained by his father Hyman Hank Bergman from 1972-1979. From 1980-1983, his trainers were Jose Maceo (1980), former pro boxer Eddie Ludlow and Gary Ritter (1981), Isaac Sved (1982), and former World Lightweight Champion Beau Jack (1983). The legendary cornerman Benjamin "Evil Eye" Finkle worked Bergman's corner for two matches.
Bergman competed in 4-Golden Glove tournaments in South Florida. His first amateur bout was a first round knock out defeat to future movie star Mickey Rourke on August 20, 1972. Rourke, fighting under his birth name of Phillip, climbed off the canvas to win the Boys Club of Miami sanctioned match in 31 seconds.
Sherman Bergman's biggest amateur match was in 1981 against Larry Byrd in the Southern Regional Golden Gloves in Coconut Grove, Florida. The Miami Herald reported that 600 fans turned out for the bout. In a slugfest which started at the bell, Byrd knocked down Bergman twice to score a TKO victory in 33 seconds. Byrd went on to a professional boxing career.
Bergman worked for a short time as a sparring partner for future World Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton, and heavyweight contender Rodney Bobick at the 5th Street Gym.
Following a defeat to Willie McGee at the 1983 Golden Gloves, Bergman retired from amateur boxing with a record 17 wins, 4 defeats, and all 17 wins by knockout.
Kickboxing Career
Sherman Bergman fought primarily in the Southern Independent Circuit. He was trained by his father Hyman Hank Bergman.
In 1979, Bergman fought Jean-Claude Van Damme in a sanctioned full-contact match in Tampa, Florida. Bergman knocked Van Damme down moments into their match, but Van Damme arose to knockout Bergman with an axe-kick at 56 seconds of the 1st round.
At the Sunshine State Tournament in 1980, Bergman lost by points to future PKA World Lightheavyweight Champion Gary Daniels,.
Bergman racked up an impressive string of knockout victories over mostly local club-fighters. In 1981, Bergman knocked out Wilver "Rio" Johnson in 18 seconds. Famed boxing trainer Angelo Dundee said, " If a guy knocks out 13 straight grandmothers, you still have to respect his punch."
Bergman's knockout streak caught the attention of Official Karate Magazine staff writer, Barry Harrell. In the November 1984 issue of Official Karate Magazine, in his column, Southern Exposure, Harrell called Sherman Bergman "One of the best new prospects on his way to the top. "
Exactly a year later in the November 1985 issue of Official Karate Magazine, Bergman's 23-second knockout over Thailand's Morsak Muangsu was highlighted in Barry Harrell's column.
The STAR System World Kickboxing Ratings for professional kickboxing, listed Bergman briefly as a designated contender (ranked from 11th to 20th in the world) in the World SuperWelterweight Rankings.
However, Bergman's vocation was education. He began working full-time for Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a teacher in 1981. Kickboxing was his avocation. Thus, even though he had the opportunity to seek a world ranking, he just lingered on the minor league circuit.
Bergman's biggest victory was a 1988 1st round knockout over undefeated Brazilian Alejandro DasCola,. However, Bergman's prospects were derailed when he was knocked out in 2 rounds by Carlos Andino.
Bergman went on to defeat Andino in a rematch, but was knocked out by club-fighter Mario Wilfredos a year later.
In 1996, Bergman scored a knockout over Bernardo Jua.
Bergman used his fight career as an inspiration to his student population, as well as a springboard to help various community organizations in his hometown. Bergman was active with the Ronald McDonald House of Miami, the Salvation Army's canned food drive, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The United Way, the Blood Bank, and the Cultural Arts Society of Dade County.
In 2009, Bergman officially announced his retirement and his record was listed as 56-8 (56 KOs). However, in March 2010, Bergman returned for a one fight comeback, which resulted in a 3-round draw with Igor "The Refrigerator" Romanov(source:The Miami Herald, Sunday, March 28, 2010, page 27NE: SPORTS SCENE).
Amateur Boxing Record:Career Highlights
Kickboxing Record:Career Highlights
Mentoring/Coaching career
From 2002 to 2004, Sherman Bergman mentored South American martial artists Jeronimo Solis, Luis Carvalho, Martin Rebollo, and Derwin Portilla.
Solis was a Florida (NASKA) and 2-time Miami point-fighting champion. Carvalho was a South American karate champion; Rebollo and Portilla were Miami point-fighting champions.
Personal life
Bergman was born in Miami Beach, Florida. He graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1976. He went on to graduate from Miami Dade College, Florida International University, and Nova Southeastern University. He has a Bachlors Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in TESOL.
In 1981, Bergman began a teaching career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
On April 24, 2009, at the Palms South Beach Hotel, Bergman was one of nine finalists for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 2008-2009 Elayne Weisburd Excellence in Education Award. David Reese, a teacher at Miami Beach Senior High School won the award.
Acting
Bergman studied acting with famed drama teacher Jay W. Jensen. Jensen's students included Andy GarcÃa, Brett Ratner, and Mickey Rourke.
As a child, Bergman appeared on the television shows: The Skipper Chuck Show, Jumping Jack, Charlie Baxter's Big Top, and Banjo Billy. He also acted in the stage play 10,000 Baskets directed by Lois Brooks.
Bergman worked as an actor, extra, and stunt performer.
He appeared in a number of "B" films in Italy in the 1980s. Among the movies he acted in were Get Mean, The Last Blood aka Tornado, and I Nuovi Barbari.
Footnotes
- Miami Herald, Sunday, March 28, 2010, SPORTS SCENE, page 27NE, WATCH THE LEFT:Sherman "Big Train" Bergman, 51, of Miami Beach returned to kickboxing..., David Epstein for the Miami Herald.
- Miami Herald, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, Sports Section, page 6D, Kickboxing: 'BIG TRAIN' IS DONE, by Jim Varsallone.
- Miami Herald, Thursday, August 7, 2008, pages 11–12, Neighbors: SCHOOL SCENE, FIGHTING FOR RONALD, by Micaela Hood.
- Tre Today News (Xuat Tinh Som), December 31, 2007: "SAO" & "SAO": JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME.
- Day by Day in Jewish Sports History by Bob Wechsler, Publisher: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., Published date: October 2007, Sherman Bergman, pages 197, 386.
- Miami Herald, November 28, 2004, Neighbors, page 37: MARTIAL ARTS.
- Miami Herald, October 3, 2004, MB, page 32: KARATE CHAMPS.
- Miami Herald, Sunday, August 22, 2004, Neighbors MB, page 37:KNOCKOUT KICKBOXERS.
- Miami Herald, May 23, 2004, MB, page 30: KARATE CHAMPS.
- Miami Herald, April 11, 2004 MB, page 27: KARATE CHAMPS.
- Miami Herald, Sunday, February 2, 2003 MB, page 26: CHAMPIONS.
- Miami Herald, August 18, 2002, NeighborsBC, page 28 MB: ESOL STUDENTS PLACE IN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
- Fien-Print, Volume 1, Issue 9-Summer 2002, page 3: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE-SHERMAN BERGMAN IS ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL, by Jairo Naranjo.
- The Chalkboard, April 2001, Volume 1, Issue 5: SHERMAN BERGMAN, by Jairo Naranjo.
- Miami Herald, Sunday, August 13, 2000, Neighbors MB, page 4: INSTRUCTOR MARTIALS HIS STUDENTS TO SUCCEED by Melisma Cox.
- EDWORKS, Premiere '99, page 6: FACULTY FOCUS-HE'S A WINNER!, IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE RING.
- Black Belt Magazine, September 1998, page 168: LETTERS: UFC WIN SPURS COMEBACK.
- Miami Herald, Thursday, September 24, 1995, 4, Neighbors MB: BOXER'S REAL KICK IS TEACHING.
- Miami Herald Thursday, September 24, 1995, Neighbors NMB: BOXER'S REAL KICK IS TEACHING ENGLISH, by Moshe Alexenberg.
- Fundacao USA Brasil, December 1993, page 3, CHAMPION OUR CHAMPION, by Vera Lins Ferst.
- Miami Herald, ?/?/1993, Speak Out: KICK-BOXING HELPS TEACH.
- Miami Herald, Sunday, September 22, 1991 MB, page 38: TEACHER GETS HIS KICKS IN CLASSROOM AND RING
- Miami Herald, July 12, 1990, 6, Neighbors MB: KICKBOXER INSPIRES STUDENTS, by Johnny Diaz.
- The Trendsetter, Vol. 2, No. 1, September/October 1989, page 5: INSPIRATION.
- Miami Herald, September 29, 1988, Neighbors MB: NEIGHBORS IN SPORTS-SHERMAN BERGMAN IS ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL, by Jeremy Kroll.
- Official Karate Magazine, November 1985, page 14: SOUTHERN EXPOSURE by Barry Harrell.
- Official Karate Magazine, November 1984, page 14: SOUTHERN EXPOSURE by Barry Harrell.
- STAR System World Kickboxing Ratings
External links
- Sherman Bergman at the Internet Movie Database
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