JWP
02-08-2003, 11:05 PM
Champion Kickboxer Dies In Deadly Shooting
San Francisco, CA, USA: Prepare yourselves fight fans for what I (Steve Fossum) am about to share with you has hit those of us in the Kickboxing World very hard today. Sitting here working late on a Friday night, K-1 USA Promoter Scott Coker called me at about 6:30 PM to inform me of a very tragic loss to the Kickboxing world. Here is what we know so far from the sources we have attained information from.
At around 4:35 PM (PST) a car hit another car at the Fairtex Training Center in San Francisco with the driver pulling away without stopping. The person who's car was hit gave chase after the car and caught up with and confronted him. When done so, the driver of the hit and run car pulled out a gun and shot the chaser through his window in the chest. The victim fell back and bled to death within 10 minutes in the middle of the street.
Today kickboxing has lost a
World Champion Fighter, Trainer and Spokesperson of our sport as well as a friend to many of us...
Alex "F-14" Gong
San Francisco's TV CBS Channel 5 Reported: A road rage incident may have led to a deadly shooting South of Market in San Francisco during the Friday afternoon commute. Investigators say there was a minor traffic off 5th St. in the South of Market area, and that the victim of the homicide apparently chased the suspect's car. Witnesses say the victim confronted the suspect at 5th and Clara. "It appears that it was a traffic accident dispute," said Maria Oropeza of the San Francisco Police Department. "The victim chased the suspect, and upon contact, the suspect shot the victim."
A witness named Jason said, "He tried to confront the guy. We heard one pop, and he fell to the ground." The suspect's vehicle is described as a green or gray Jeep Cherokee with possibly a broken window. Southbound 5th St. was blocked off at Folsom, and there was another police blockade on Harrison. Traffic was moving in the area as of 6:30pm, but it was very slow.
Witnesses say after he shot Gong the driver sped away towards the Bay Bridge but not before several of Gong's students caught the make of the car and his license plate number. The students tried to revive Gong who was actually in his gym working out at the time of the hit and run but were obviously not successful. Once informed, the Police shut down streets near the Bay Bridge but no word on whether the shooter has been caught yet.
"This is a sad day for martial arts." Said Scott Coker, (L) who was responsible for much of Gong's publicized success as a fighter on the StrikeForce Events in San Jose, California shown on ESPN Worldwide. "He did so many great things for MuayThai and the martial arts community, keeping MuayThai alive in America through his spirit and his gym."
We here at the IKF knew Alex since his amateur career and watched him become a successful martial artist and World Champion. It's sad that a loss such as this makes you take a step back and think about what our lives are really worth. How meaningless our little troubles and problems are when compared to such an action. That a single gunshot from an unknown stranger can change the course and lives of so many.
Excuse me if I am short on words here as to what to offer or say to those much closer to Alex. No words can ease the loss of anyone and no story will either. We can only say we are here for you if you need anything from us, and I believe all in kickboxing feel the same.
Alex started training at the Fairtex Camp in 1994 with head trainer Phicheat Arunlueng "Ganyao". He has also trained with Master Apideh Sit Hirun (named Muay Thai Fighter of the century by the King of Thailand). Apideh is the head trainer of Fairtex Thailand. Prior to Fairtex, Alex trained with Paul Meteyo. Kru Mateyo inspired Alex to continue his Muay Thai and martial arts training. Before Muay Thai, Alex trained in the Seido Kai kan karate for three years under Shihan Edwards in the US and at the Seido head quarters in Osaka Japan, the K1 organization. Alex also trained in Tae Kwan Do for six years and several various martial arts including Aikido and Judo. His record as a fighter was 27 wins, 2 loses with 13 of his wins coming by TKO/KO. His accomplishments are many and include:
National Siam Award "Best fighter of the year" (2001)
K-1 SuperFight winner (2001)
K-1 SuperFight winner (2000)
ISKA Light Middle weight world champion (1999)
ISKA Light Middle Weight North American Champion (1998)
ISKA Super Welterweight Inter-Continental Champion (1997)
WMTC Super Welterweight North American Champion (1996)
IFCA Amateur Light Middleweight US National Champion (1995)
San Francisco, CA, USA: Prepare yourselves fight fans for what I (Steve Fossum) am about to share with you has hit those of us in the Kickboxing World very hard today. Sitting here working late on a Friday night, K-1 USA Promoter Scott Coker called me at about 6:30 PM to inform me of a very tragic loss to the Kickboxing world. Here is what we know so far from the sources we have attained information from.
At around 4:35 PM (PST) a car hit another car at the Fairtex Training Center in San Francisco with the driver pulling away without stopping. The person who's car was hit gave chase after the car and caught up with and confronted him. When done so, the driver of the hit and run car pulled out a gun and shot the chaser through his window in the chest. The victim fell back and bled to death within 10 minutes in the middle of the street.
Today kickboxing has lost a
World Champion Fighter, Trainer and Spokesperson of our sport as well as a friend to many of us...
Alex "F-14" Gong
San Francisco's TV CBS Channel 5 Reported: A road rage incident may have led to a deadly shooting South of Market in San Francisco during the Friday afternoon commute. Investigators say there was a minor traffic off 5th St. in the South of Market area, and that the victim of the homicide apparently chased the suspect's car. Witnesses say the victim confronted the suspect at 5th and Clara. "It appears that it was a traffic accident dispute," said Maria Oropeza of the San Francisco Police Department. "The victim chased the suspect, and upon contact, the suspect shot the victim."
A witness named Jason said, "He tried to confront the guy. We heard one pop, and he fell to the ground." The suspect's vehicle is described as a green or gray Jeep Cherokee with possibly a broken window. Southbound 5th St. was blocked off at Folsom, and there was another police blockade on Harrison. Traffic was moving in the area as of 6:30pm, but it was very slow.
Witnesses say after he shot Gong the driver sped away towards the Bay Bridge but not before several of Gong's students caught the make of the car and his license plate number. The students tried to revive Gong who was actually in his gym working out at the time of the hit and run but were obviously not successful. Once informed, the Police shut down streets near the Bay Bridge but no word on whether the shooter has been caught yet.
"This is a sad day for martial arts." Said Scott Coker, (L) who was responsible for much of Gong's publicized success as a fighter on the StrikeForce Events in San Jose, California shown on ESPN Worldwide. "He did so many great things for MuayThai and the martial arts community, keeping MuayThai alive in America through his spirit and his gym."
We here at the IKF knew Alex since his amateur career and watched him become a successful martial artist and World Champion. It's sad that a loss such as this makes you take a step back and think about what our lives are really worth. How meaningless our little troubles and problems are when compared to such an action. That a single gunshot from an unknown stranger can change the course and lives of so many.
Excuse me if I am short on words here as to what to offer or say to those much closer to Alex. No words can ease the loss of anyone and no story will either. We can only say we are here for you if you need anything from us, and I believe all in kickboxing feel the same.
Alex started training at the Fairtex Camp in 1994 with head trainer Phicheat Arunlueng "Ganyao". He has also trained with Master Apideh Sit Hirun (named Muay Thai Fighter of the century by the King of Thailand). Apideh is the head trainer of Fairtex Thailand. Prior to Fairtex, Alex trained with Paul Meteyo. Kru Mateyo inspired Alex to continue his Muay Thai and martial arts training. Before Muay Thai, Alex trained in the Seido Kai kan karate for three years under Shihan Edwards in the US and at the Seido head quarters in Osaka Japan, the K1 organization. Alex also trained in Tae Kwan Do for six years and several various martial arts including Aikido and Judo. His record as a fighter was 27 wins, 2 loses with 13 of his wins coming by TKO/KO. His accomplishments are many and include:
National Siam Award "Best fighter of the year" (2001)
K-1 SuperFight winner (2001)
K-1 SuperFight winner (2000)
ISKA Light Middle weight world champion (1999)
ISKA Light Middle Weight North American Champion (1998)
ISKA Super Welterweight Inter-Continental Champion (1997)
WMTC Super Welterweight North American Champion (1996)
IFCA Amateur Light Middleweight US National Champion (1995)