Anastasios “Tosca” Petridis is a great of Australian kickboxing. A seven-time World Kickboxing Champion and the son of Greek immigrants from Edessa, Petridis channelled his wild personality into a career that spanned decades—winning admiration and respect across the kickboxing world.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Petridis credits his natural rebelliousness for shaping his resilient personality.
“I enjoyed mucking around and getting into mischief; that’s probably why I started fight training at 12 years of age.
My first proper fight was at 15, against another Greek-Aussie who was 10 years older than me. I won. I loved the thrill.”
His early love of fighting became focused after he began following the career of Australian kickboxing icon Paul Fyfield.
“I became obsessed with Paul. He eventually became my trainer and lifelong friend. I wanted to be exactly like him. I wanted to be the best in the world.”
In his early 20s, Petridis took his work to a new level by moving to the U.S. and training at the Jet Centre under kickboxing legend Benny Urquidez.
“It was one of the best boxing facilities of its time, and the experience was invaluable,” he says.
This period allowed him to hone his skills and broaden his understanding of the sport—knowledge he would later pass on to the next generation of fighters.
Kickboxing demands both mental and physical discipline, and Petridis admits that staying focused was often a challenge.
“I didn’t do it on my own,” he says, laughing. “I had an amazing team around me, particularly Paul. If I ever slacked off, Paul would whip me back into shape. I was a real loose cannon back then, and I needed someone to keep me in line.”
Training was relentless: five hours a day, seven days a week, starting with a morning run followed by intensive glove sessions.
“Paul wouldn’t let me miss a single session. And if I wasn’t listening or was going too hard, I’d cop a nice smack from him.”
Among his most challenging fights was his 1995 bout against Dutch kickboxing legend Rob Kaman.
“He was such a hard kicker. I’d rather have been hit with a baseball bat to the leg. One of his kicks tore a nerve off my lower spine.”
Another standout moment was his 1993 World Kickboxing Title fight against Jean-Yves Thériault in Montreal.
“We fought in a small ring, and he kept putting the pressure on me for 12 rounds—it was exhausting. But it was also an honour to share the ring with fighters like him.”
Petridis admits to pre-fight nerves that often manifested physically, with rashes and cold sores.
“I was so scared before a fight—worried about losing, getting hurt, but mostly about disappointing Paul. After my first loss, I was crying near the ring, and Paul came up to me and said, ‘Come on ya big loser, let’s get changed.’ We both started laughing. That humour was exactly what I needed.”
His mother also played a vital role in his post-fight ritual.
“No matter the time zone or circumstances, I always had to call her after every match to let her know I was okay—typical Greek mum.”
Reflecting on how the sport has evolved, Petridis says,
“In my opinion, fighters today are far more aggressive. Back then, there were only a handful of real brawlers. Now, every kickboxer is a menace—but still with fantastic technique. They never duck each other, and they’re always keen to slug it out. I love that mentality.”
As for his proudest achievement, it’s not the titles or the victories—but the bond he shared with his coach.
“Having Paul in my corner meant everything. All I wanted to do was impress him and prove I had a never-give-up mentality. That’s all I cared about.”
There is much, much more we could reflect on about Tosca’s illustrious career—including his infamous boxing match against U.S. superstar Iran Barkley, his impressive stint in mixed martial arts, and countless entertaining pre- and post-fight stories. We have barely scratched the surface—and perhaps this can be left for another time.
Today, Petridis channels his passion into training others. A long-time coach at the FightFit Boxing Centre in South Melbourne, he mentors aspiring fighters and helps everyday people achieve their fitness goals. It is undeniable that Tosca remains deeply committed to the sport that helped define his life.
