From Bronx to Myanmar: The Untold Story of “Sobek” Semper
Kick‑boxing’s new powerhouse AKA Matthew “Sobek” Semper
56‑22‑1 on the record, and 41 knockouts from those 56 victories – that’s the kind of punch‑line a fighter we have. Good thing he’s headed to the ONE Super Series to sweeten the high‑stakes prize.
What’s on tap for ONE’s next showdown?
- Face‑to‑face with Australia’s Elliot “The Dragon” Compton (45‑11).
- Lean into a lightweight kick‑boxing clash at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar.
- Event: ONE: SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR – Friday, 29 June.
Quick‑fire bio: The Bronx prodigy turned digital‑dreaded warrior
Semper, born and bred in New York City, used to be all over the ball‑field – track, hockey, football, basketball and baseball. The list reads like a sports marathon, but as he hit his teens, the digital world stole the spotlight.
“High school was my lobby to video games,” he says. “World of Warcraft whipped me into a gaming addict, and I stopped doing everything else.”
He let the pixels win, piling on the weight while his desk job as a graphic designer kept him glued to the screen.
One day, a baptism photo turned out “I couldn’t even recognise myself.” That shock was the catalyst for a dramatic pivot.
Breaking the addiction with a knockout mindset
Semper’s exit strategy wasn’t a cold‑fire quit. “I gave myself a few weeks, then I cut it off completely,” he shared. From there, he stepped into the ring of Muay Thai.
The journey to the ring
- Training at Five Points Academy in Manhattan.
- Next stop: Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket – sticking around for 18 months.
- Back to the Bronx with a new purpose: professional kick‑boxing destiny.
2014‑2025: Titles, victories, and a fly‑high ambition
Two belts under his belt – the PK‑1 Super Heavyweight Title and the AMCO Cruiserweight Title – now he’s calling out ONE in hopes of grabbing the World Title slot.
When the ring’s lights shine on Yangon
Semper and Compton are mutually respectful but keen to knock it out on grand stage. Both know the stakes: a possible Fight of the Night anthem and a chance at a storied championship.
“We’ll go hard, show no mercy, and whoever pulls away first, we’ll get the bragging rights,” Semper quips, half serious, half in jest.
Takeaway: It’s not just a fight – it’s a triumph
This is more than a match; it’s the culmination of a journey that started with a basketball, took a detour through video games, and ended in the reverberating sound of a punch. For the Bronx kid who can’t read “I’m left” somewhere, the world’s listening.
