Redone Bougara was born in Paris, France on April 26th, 1972. He grew up in the town of Cergy-Pontoise, France along with 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Redone's parents were born in Fez, Morocco but they moved to France in 1962 to find a better life. His father worked in construction while his mother stayed home and raised the children. They lived in a small 3 bedroom apartment which started to become more and more crowded as the children grew. The crowded living space began to take its toll, so Redone began looking for things to do outside the home.

At the age of 7, Redone began feeling the pressures of life. He decided to join the neighborhood soccer team to help break the routine of school and give him the release he was looking for.

Redone became exceptionally good at soccer and at the age of 13 someone else took notice of his abilities. Luckily, nearby his house there was a school specifically for young soccer players from the ages of 13 to 17. These students were selected to be the next generation of professionals. One of the 3 top trainers of the school came up to Redone after the state championships, and offered him a chance to attend such a school.

Redone attended this school for 2 years, from ages 13 to 15. During this time they trained 5 days a week and would compete on Sundays. Their opponents were different schools from the other states of France.

At the age of 16, just one year later, Redone joined a semi-professional soccer team and played there for three seasons, the team was very successful and became somewhat well-known in the soccer world. Although Redone had taken every game very seriously, his teammates had other things on their mind. While Redone was resting and taking care of himself before every match, his teammates were out pursuing women, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes. Redone couldn't keep the team record up by himself of course, so their wins began turning into losses. Redone and the few other teammates who were trying to keep the team going began to get extremely frustrated. Obviously they weren't able to win without the dedication of the rest of the team.

Since Redone was experiencing such frustration with some of his teammates, he began to lose interest in team-oriented sports. He began searching for a sport he could do alone, depending on no one but himself for success. In 1991 he began to train at the Cobra Kickboxing Center just outside Paris. This particular gym was owned and operated by Military Police Officers. Redone's eldest brother a black belt in Karate and a 2nd degree black belt in Judo, joined the training team to help his brother train. Throughout the year of 1992, Redone participated in a series of 5 fights to gain the French Amateur Championship title. At the age of 20 he had achieved the title of French Amateur Champion.

The next year was also very successful for Redone. He turned semi-professional and became French Champion winning five grueling fights. He had also won the tittle of Paris State Amateur Boxing Champion. Throughout this time Redone had taken notice of young children living in the same conditions he had and wanted to desperately to help them find their "out". He couldn't bare to see these youths on the streets where they might get caught up in gangs and violence, something Redone had seen too much while growing up. Redone became a kickboxing instructor to help teach these children discipline, respect, and to show them they have their place in the world.

In 1994 Redone turned professional. In the course of a year, he was to fight in 4 very advanced fights. He came out a winner and French Champion at the end of the '94-'95 Tournament. Redone gained a great deal of respect, trust, and admiration from all of his students. This motivated him to keep fighting along with instructing his students. More and more kids came to his school to learn whatever they could from him. In this year he also became semi-professional Thai Boxing, French Champion.

In 1995 Redone turned Thai Boxing Professional French Champion. It wasn't long after that before his name hit the papers. His students would bring him many copies of papers and magazines with his fights and interviews in them. He finally had found the recognition he had worked so hard for. He also began to travel to other countries to fight. Countries such as: Switzerland, Ukraine, and Thailand.

In 1996 Redone became Middleweight European Champion of Thai Boxing. This was held in Paris, against the Turkish Champion Redone won by knockout in the 2nd round. He then fought the New Zealand Champion in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Dome. After that he went back to Thailand to fight and train. During this time, Redone had met a girl who was to become his future wife. They had met during kickboxing class and had noticed one another immediately. Redone would later tell his friends he had fallen in love with Lisa "the minute I laid my eyes on her". The feeling was mutual for Lisa and in August of 1996 they began dating exclusively.

In April of 1997 Redone was asked to defend his European Championship title. He won by unanimous decision. Recently, he had his first fight in the USA and fought for the North American Title. This was his very first 10 round fight. He lost by the decision of the judges, But not by the decision of the crowd.

Redone gained a great deal of respect from this fight. This was the start of him establishing himself in the United States. He was now realizing one of his dreams; to live in America. Redone began some of the same work here as he did while he was in France. APCH "A Place Called Home" is a non-profit school for children in South Central, CA. Redone spent time with the kids at this school doing demonstrations and talks to help teach them what he had learned throughout his life. Redone and one of his long time greatest friends Nicolas Saignac loved these children and both of them did everything they could for them. The children knew how much they cared for them and adored them both.

Redone made friends with everyone he met. During a visit to the orange county swap meet, he became interested in some boxing material that one of the vendors was selling. He asked for the vendors card for future reference and quickly became friends with him. His name was Eddie Mesorano.

After a short time Redone wanted to get a hold of Eddie to ask about more boxing items. When he called Eddies home number he spoke with Eddie's mother Betty, only to find Eddie wasn't home. Betty started to talk to Redone about his boxing, showing great interest in his accomplishments she had learned about from her son. They enjoyed talking to each other a great deal and after a while became friends. Any time Redone needed to call Eddie, he would end up talking to Betty.

When Betty became sick and was staying in a convalescent home, Redone insisted on going there to meet her. Eddie was all too happy to oblige and he took Redone to see his mother. Redone talked and talked to her that day and she was obviously glad to have finally met him. After that, she referred to Redone as her "adopted son" and Lisa as her "adopted daughter". Redone would visit Betty often and spend hours at a time with her, telling her about the fights to come. Betty was one of Redone's biggest fans. One of the most memorable times was when Redone, Lisa, Eddie, and Redone's cousin Mohamed, took Betty out to eat. Betty never wanted to put anyone out, and felt she shouldn't go. Redone was able to convince her to leave the house. Redone brought a smile so big to her face and to the faces of everyone he meets. He once said that if he could make one person smile once a day, then he would be happy forever.

Draka was Redones next challenge. It's a form of kickboxing that originated in Russia and consists of takedowns and throws. Redone had never fought in this style before so he had to learn quickly. This fight for a World Championship Title. Since this style of kickboxing was relatively new to the US, Redone was one of the first pioneers to fight in California. His first fight was Sept. 6, 1997. He won the 12 round bout by split decision. He had won the title of "World Champion", something he had dreamed of his entire life. He had achieved one of his ultimate goals.

In Draka you must fight a series of three fights. The person who won the best of three was to be the World Champion for the next six months or a year. The champ would not have to defend the title before a year if they chose not to. So, Redone now had to fight a 2nd time. The rematch was set for October 18,1997. Redone lost by TKO in the 2nd round. Although his dream was shattered and the World Championship lost. He wasn't about to give it up. The 3rd and final match was set for January 3rd, 1998.

Since Redone and Lisa had met they had touched each others lives in so many ways. Lisa gave Redone a reason to fight, to live for. Up until now, Redone never felt anyone truly cared for him. Redone gave Lisa the love, respect, and admiration she had always dreamed of having. Together they loved on another with all of their heart and soul and knew they would spend the rest of their lives together. They were able to show each other what it meant to love.

Lisa and Redone had been talking about getting married in May of 1998. Lisa wanted to have the ceremony back home in Chicago where their two families could come together. However, something was telling them to get married right away. So instead of waiting until May, they flew to Las Vegas and were married December 27th, 1997. Just one week before Redone's final fight.

On January 3rd, 1998 Redone stepped into the ring for what would be the 3rd and final meeting of these 2 fighters. Both had 1 win against each other and both thirsting for the title. At the Forum in Inglewood, CA. The bell rang, and out came the fighters. The first 6 or 7 rounds were somewhat uneventful. The crowd was restless and wanted more action. Up to this point Bougara was definitely out boxing his opponent Malik Berbashev of Russia. Redone had great hand speed and his right hand was very effective but Redone was doing all the work. Later Malik became the aggressor initiating exchanges and landing more punches. Around the 8th round Malik was to throw Redone onto the ropes and then out of the ring. After this Redone began to show signs of was what thought to be fatigue. Redones hand speed had slowed down and his balance was off. Redone continued to fight, never once giving anything less than his best.

The bell rang to start the 11th and final round of Redones life. In the 21st second of this round the referee stopped the fight when Redone made it clear he could no longer defend himself when he turned his back on Malik. Once the call was made, Redone showed obvious signs of disagreement, shaking his head and dancing around the ring to show world he was able to continue despite his fatigue. After realizing the fight was over, Redone returned to his corner in frustration. He then watched his opponent walk around the ring, waving his countries flag in victory. Redone hugged him in congratulations, posed for a picture then went o his corner to gather his things. He and his trainers headed to the locker room.

On the way to the locker room he complained of not feeling well. Minutes later he was taken by ambulance to Daniel Freedman Hospital in Inglewood. His wife Lisa, Coach Jean Paul, and Nicolais accompanied Redone in the ambulance to the hospital. Jean Paul wasn't just a coach to Redone but more like his brother. Jean Paul was there to support him because Redone needed and wanted him there. Jean Paul left his family, his job, and his life to be there for him. Never accepting anything but the love and respect of Redone was all he needed to be there for him. The doctors came to Lisa to inform her that there was bleeding on the front left portion of his brain and that if they didn't operate would could die. The happiest moments and the most devastating moments of their lives all within a week of each other. How could this be? The devastation was unbelievable for of his friends and family.

The surgery was nearly 4 hours long and the prognosis was grave. There was more damage than originally thought and the hope for recovery was slim. This was something a couple so young, with so much promise, so much hope, and now so little future should never have to go through. They spent 6 days in the hospital waiting for the inevitable. Redones family was here from France, a flight a parent should never have to experience. Filled with grief and despair they stood by him until the end. Redone parents hadn't seen him for 9 months. Lisa knew how much Redones parents meant to him, and out of her love for Redone she agreed to let his parents take him back to France where his life began. This was not an easy thing for her to do, she would be left to mourn only in her heart. No pain is greater than a mothers loss of a child and for this he was to stay as close to his mother as possible.

Redone was a lot of things to many people; he was a World Champion kickboxer to some, a wonderful loving friend to others, and an extraordinary husband to Lisa. Most of all he was kind, funny, romantic, charismatic, and beautiful inside and out. He made a difference in the lives of everyone he met. He loved so much. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and new bride. May god bless all others that knew and loved him. We will all feel the pain of his absence but will remember him forever. May we pray that no one go through such a tragic turn of events. Redone was not only a world class fighter, he was a champion in life, an inspiration to everyone he touched.

For Donations send to the following address:

      c/o Lisa Bougara
      10736 Jefferson Blvd. #126
      Culver City, CA  90230