15th Annual Battle, Calgary, Canada

This report was written and supplied by Mike Miles

THE 15TH ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS & PRAIRIES INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MUAY THAI & KICKBOXING EVENT -
Saturday November 4th, 2000 Calgary, Alberta, Canada

On Saturday November 4th, 2000, Calgary, Canada was treated to one o fits best, if not the best fight card of the 2000 year. The '15th Annual Battle of the Rocky Mountains & Prairies International Championship Muay Thai and Kickboxing Event' was an outstanding success. Team Canada was to take on the world (athletes from Ireland, England, Russia, Germany and the USA were represented in the bouts) in every scheduled bout. The athletes from around the world were supported by top world class coaches including Ernst Skerra (Germany), Tony Myers (England), Mark Woodard (England), Vladimir Borodine (Ukraine now in the USA), Gene Fields and Barry Benedict (both of the USA).

Over 3000 people attended the event. "I was very happy with the attendance considering we were hit with a snowstorm just hours before the doors were to open for the event. Streets were covered in black ice. I am sure we would have even done better than this had the weather cooperated," laughed Promoter Mike Miles. "The weather has been a bit of a pain to my promotions this year and unfortunately it seemed it was not going to change for this event either."

The event ran smoothly and professionally with no problems during the running of the bouts or the production of the event. The event was taped to be later broadcast on Canada's sports network, TSN. There will be 3 shows out of this event with the first being broadcast in January 2001. Each show will be highlighted by one of the following 3 bouts reviewed here (athletes Smandych, Ring, and Fenton).

The matchmaking of the athletes was impressive and the quality of the bouts was good from a technical stand point. Eight of the bouts were fought under full Muay Thai rules allowing the use of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows (though the elbows were padded). One Muay Thai bout was battled under modified rules (not allowing elbow strikes or knee attacks to the head / Adam Higson vs. Simon Aston), and the remainder of the twelve bouts (three of them) were fought under Kickboxing rules (allowing kicks to the inside and outside of the legs). Four of the event's bouts could have been the main event on any fight card around the world. They featured exceptional skills from the athletes and great action.

Trevor 'T.N.T.' Smandych vs German National Champion Miroslaw 'Mirko' Lerch.

The Main Event of the evening featured Canada's top welterweight Trevor 'T.N.T.' Smandych against German National Champion Miroslaw 'Mirko' Lerch. Lerch is a very experienced Muay Thai athlete and is rated by the International Kick-Boxing Federation (I.K.B.F.) as their number 4 competitor in the world ratings. Both athletes were extremely respectful to each other and outstanding examples of what sportsmanship should be like between two athletes in the ring before, during, and after the bout. Round one went to the German athlete who smiled as he waded through the Canadian's strikes and counterattacked with hard body shots and leg kicks designed to stop the Canadian athlete as soon as possible. The German athlete attempted many hard elbow attacks but Smandych covered up very well. In the second round, Smandych seemed to wake up and started countering effectively. This was noticeable because Lerch was not smiling as widely as he did in the previous round. The smile was not one of disrespect from Lerch, but one of extreme confidence in his own skills. As the round continued the two athletes exchanged monster leg kicks and body shots that lesser athletes would have folded from. During the bout each athlete was to catch the others roundhouse kick attempts but neither really could capitalize on the position (Smandych would break free of the position while Lerch would fall to the canvas). From the third round on, Smandych took control of the rounds with swift, precise and heavy punch and kick combinations. At no point was Lerch ever out of the running but as the rounds progressed he was answering with counter attacks at a significantly reduced rate (though the strikes were still very powerful and focused). As the fight progressed Smandych landed some strong elbow and knee attacks but they did not seem to affect the German athlete. Lerch proved he is a strong and confident champion with a jaw of steel.

The bout went the distance and at the end of the fight, Smandych was declared the winner by an unanimous decision. Renowned German promoter as well as Lerch's coach Ernst Skerra admitted, "Smandych has proven he is a world class athlete with this bout." Canadian coach Mike Miles said, "I am glad the bout went the full distance. Trevor needs to know he can do the full distance under the pressure and desire of a respected athlete like Lerch. These guys were great and the audience was treated to one heck of a fight!" Smandych went on to win the 'Roy Lilley Award' as the Best Canadian Athlete on the Event.

Nick 'The Scorpion' Ring vs James 'Pretty Boy' Watling

The Semi Main Event of the evening featured Canada's Nick 'The Scorpion' Ring making his debut back into the ring since being sidelined by a hand injury earlier in the year. His opponent was the UK's James 'Pretty Boy' Watling. The British athlete was built solidly and as the bout commenced, it was obvious why. "He punches hard. I did not want to risk taking one of his punches," said Canadian Nick Ring. In the first round until the termination of the bout in the fourth round, Ring resorted to a determined onslaught of clinching, kneeing and as the bout progressed elbow attacks. Watling did not know how to deal with Ring who is very capable of kneeing from almost any type of clinch position. Watling took knees to the legs, to the sides of the rib cage, to the stomach, high up on the chest and even to the face. Ring would carry on with his clinch attack for amazingly long periods with a very high work pace. When Watling broke free or the athletes were separated by the referee, he would resort to delivering strong kicks or strong punches which the Canuck would shell up from. The clinchwork and the body attack was at a merciless pace from Ring. Watling showed incredible desire and toughness but as the rounds progressed the body onslaught had zapped some of his energy. He wanted to stay away from the clinch but Ring would almost slip into the position at will. By the fourth round Ring was merciless with his knee attack and when Watling would try and smother the knee attack, Ring would resort to using his elbows. Ring started dropping some elbows on the top of the head of Watling and by this time, the Brit's cornerman thought he saw enough and did not want to see his athlete get hurt anymore so he threw in the towel. Ring proved that the time he had off from the ring did not affect his ring skills as no ring rust was evident. Many observers felt that Ring should have won the 'Roy Lilley Award' as the Best Canadian Athlete on the Event (he won it last year).

Jason 'Ironman' Fenton vs Andy Newall

Canada's Jason 'Ironman' Fenton took on the UK's highly touted Andy Newall, an athlete who spent a lot of time last year living and competing in Thailand against the Thai's (obviously the mecca of Muay Thai). This was a very entertaining bout by both the physical as well as mental games played on each other between the two athletes. Newall looked like a Thai athlete in his mannerisms and smiled at the Canadian's strike attempts. This was to inspire Fenton into the same game and as blows were exchanged each would feign an invitation to try their strikes again and harder. This bout was highlighted by good clean Muay Thai with both athletes being capable of using both weapons. Fenton used several jump elbows and dropped them down towards the head of the British athlete as the bout progressed. The first round was very close and could have gone either way. By towards the middle of the second round and into the third, Fenton seemed to figure the Brit's timing and skills and the Canuck started to dictate the pace. In the third round after cornering the Brit, Fenton delivered an uppercut which caught Newall. The Brit was shaken and Fenton pounced with a series of blows which dropped the British athlete for the count. Fenton won the bout by a TKO decision in the third round.

Ashley 'Hands of Stone" Odd vs Lloyd Hopson

An undercard bout that was exciting and impressive was an international prestige welterweight Kickboxing rules bout (allowing kicks to the legs) between Canada's Ashley 'Hands of Stone" Odd against the almost as equally hard hitting Lloyd Hopson of the UK. The opening bell had Odd literally charge across the ring and deliver a very hard punch onslaught that took the British athlete by surprise. Mid way through the round Hopson landed a few punches which sat Odd down on the seat of his pants. Right after being knocked down by this punch from the British athlete, a British supporter was heard to say, "So much for his hands of stone!" Towards the end of the round Odd was to come back and knock Hopson down who in turn received a standing eight count. The second round was not to disappoint the Canadian audience as Odd came out and with a blistering flurry and stopped Hopson in his tracks with a vicious and brutal punch attack. "Ashley had injured his back two weeks before the bout and was in a lot of pain. He wanted the fight over with because he was really having a lot of grief with it during the bout. That was why he pounced on Hopson and wanted the bout to be over with," said Mike Miles. Both the Canadian and English coach agreed that the only way could the fight had been any better was for it to go to the later rounds. What a scorcher of a bout to say the least!

Adam Higson vs Simon Aston

2 Titles were battled over during this event:
Mississauga, Ontario's Adam Higson stepped into the ring against England's Simon Aston for the vacant WKA Intercontinental Middleweight Muay Thai Title. In the first two rounds, Aston banged into Higson almost at will. Higson was shook by the attack of the British athlete. In round three to round five Higson was to come back with some strong punches which shook the Brit but the Canuck did not or could not follow up. Aston fought a smart fight and when he was shook or tired, he would resort to the clinch to recover. Higson was not as experienced as Aston in the clinch and it showed. Aston fought a smart fight and he was declared the winner with an unanimous decision taking the title belt with him back home to England. Aston was to win the award for 'Best Visiting Athlete of the Event'.

Andrew Vanzandbergen vs Robert Clark

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan's Andrew Vanzandbergen battled against American Robert Clark for the recently vacated WKA North American Superheavyweight Kickboxing Title (the title was vacated by Canadian Keith Crawford who has set his sights on a bigger title). In the first round Clark seemed ill at ease and seemed off balance. Vanzandbergen was more successful with his strikes in the first two rounds and it appeared he was going to win the title handily. In the third round, Clark's desire to win seemed to come alive and he delivered a punch which shook the Canuck. Hurt and shelling up, Vanzandbergen tried to survive the punch onslaught of Clark but could not. By the middle of the third round the bout was stopped and Clark was declared the winner. American Rob Clark won the WKA North American Superheavyweight Kickboxing Title by a third round TKO.

Seamus Cogan vs Sokhim Or

The remainder of the undercard featured the following results: Irishman Seamus Cogan started his first round slow and tentative against Canadian Sokhim Or. In the beginning of the round a straight left from the Canadian caught Cogan flush in the face and this was to serve to wake up the Irish athlete. Towards the end of the round Cogan had the Canuck who appeared tired, continually moving backwards. In the second round Cogan was to have his way. Cogan chased the Canadian around the ring with a merciless onslaught of punches, kicks, elbows and knees proving that the Irish athlete had a good mastery of all the traditional Muay Thai weapons. Or seemed totally tired and could not get his bearings. A knee to the head put Or to the canvas for the count. Cogan won the bout by a second round TKO.

Scott Clark vs Ray Flint

Canada's Scott Clark stepped into the ring against the five inch taller Ray Flint from the UK in a full Muay Thai rules bout. This turned out to be a surprisingly short match. Flint had a battle plan of wanting to get to the inside of the shorter Clark and clinch, while delivering a strong knee attack. Flint did just this while Clark looked composed even though the Brit was landing his knees. Clark took his time in the clinch and managed to pull the Brit off balance and bend him over breaking Flint's grip. Clark then jumped up and dropped an elbow to the trapezius of Flint. The Brit went down and though he was not knocked out, he could not get up. The elbow had hit a nerve in the trapezius and affected Flint's ability to use his legs, thus he did not make the count. The Brit was escorted to his corner and he sat there while his feeling came back. This was Clark's first bout using elbows and only his third Muay Thai rules match of his career. "I would have been interested to see the bout go longer as I know Ray is very capable as a Muay Thai athlete. I wanted Scott to learn more from the bout and the way to do that is to get more ring time. I think Ray could have given some important experience to Scott during this bout. Though I am glad Scott won, I wish he would have learned more from someone as capable as Flint," said Mike Miles.

Jason 'Raptor' Jillian vs Damien Hood

Canada's Jason 'Raptor' Jillain stepped into the Ring against the UK's Damien Hood. For this bout Jillain had moved up to fight an athlete two divisions higher in weight as well as higher in stature. Hood was smart in this bout and his whole game plan was to clinch the smaller Jillain and deliver a knee barrage. For the first four rounds this was the whole fight. Jillain would take some knees, answer with some of his own knees, counter the clinch with some punches, and try and avoid the clinch. Hood was calculated and knew the Canuck did not want to be in the clinch with him, so he forced the issue. Jillain did counter and the first four rounds were very close. In the fifth round, Jillain came alive and attacked continuously with punches and kicks which flustered and bloodied Hood. In this round, Hood could not get to Jillain. Round five was the turning point in the fight and the one which convinced the judges that Jillain won the bout. "This is the first time Jillain has faced an athlete who was taller than him. Damien was good in the clinch and I think he taught Jillain a few things on the inside. It was close and I felt it could go either way until the final round when Jillain just kept catching Hood with clean shots and providing angles where Damien just could not catch him," said Mike Miles.

Trevor Desjarlais vs Gregory Flitsanov

Canada's Trevor Desjarlais stepped into the ring against Russian Gregory Flitsanov. The Russian had a significant height advantage and looked frail compared to the Canuck. Most observers felt Flitsanov would run, provide angles and counterpunch the aggressive Canadian athlete. Flitsanov proved to have strong hands and very capable kicks in this Kickboxing rules match. Desjarlais provided good movement and excellent counter punching ability. This does not sell Flitsanov short who proved he is rock solid in the chin department. The Russian athlete fought smart and used his reach to keep the Canadian working to get in and throw his heavy shots. Desjarlais is known as a vicious body puncher but he did not get the chance to prove so in this fight. The bout went to the distance and Trevor Desjarlais was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

Justin Parsons vs Chan Pen

Sixteen year old Justin Parsons (Canada) stepped into the ring with the USA's Chan Pen in a 3 round prestige Muay Thai bout. This was Parsons first Muay Thai rules bout. In the first round the Canuck landed some excellent kicks and punches to Pen who feigned invincibility and walked through the blows motioning to invite more. To Parsons credit he did not let this affect him and he stuck to his game plan. Pen wanted the fight to stay on the inside (as he was much shorter), but Parsons did a good job of maintaining a gap between the two of them. Towards the middle of the second round and on, Pen started looking tired and Parsons kept busy enough to win the bout by unanimous decision. This was a very entertaining bout and both athletes put in a great performance.

Jason Taylor vs Jeff Hougland

Canada's Jason Taylor took on the USA's Jeff Hougland in a Muay Thai match. As soon as the bell rang Hougland pounced and tried to pressure the Canuck. Hougland delivered some impressive elbow attacks but Taylor took his time and shelled up. Taylor was to control the ring and force Hougland to the corner. Towards the end of the round, Taylor cornered Hougland and landed a very convincing right cross which dropped the American for the count. Taylor won the bout by first round TKO.