SUPERFIGHTS # 9 - Red Deer, Alberta / June 23rd, 2001

This report was written and supplied by Mike Miles

Mr. Lyle Cheney hosted a very successful fight night in Red Deer, Alberta with his 'Superfights # 9' promotion. The event was completely sold out to 500+ people and the spectators were treated to both amateur Muay Thai and Kickboxing at its best.

Some of the leading Muay Thai and Kickboxing instructors in Canada came with their athletes and enthusiastically participated on this fight event. British Columbia's Sasha Smirnoff brought his talented athletes and a crowd of very enthusiastic supporters to witness the event. Mr. Wolfgang Manicke attended the event from Saskatchewan. Coaches Lyle Cheney, Dave Robson, Chris Bonde, Steve Bergeron, Gil Lafantaisie, Lazlo Herceg, George Kovacs, and Mike Miles from Alberta rounded out those in attendance with their athletes. With coaches and role models such as these, it is little wonder that Muay Thai and Kickboxing is finally getting great support from the media and the general public in this area of Canada. "These coaches and athletes are top notch. What a bunch of classy people. These people all work together fantastically well and more importantly, trust and respect each other. What a great group which made for a great event," said Mr. Mike Miles.

Some of Canada's top up and coming athletic talent had a chance to prove what a rich and strong future our country has in the sports of Muay Thai and Kickboxing. Mr. Cheney's event proved what great talent this country has and how Canada can really stand up to the world in both fighting disciplines.

The Main Event was a scorcher. It featured Alberta's Luke Spicer (Cheney's) stepping into the ring against B.C.'s Darrin Cave (Pemberton) for the WKA Canadian Cruiserweight Kickboxing Title. Cave proved he can punch, and very hard with his right hand dropping Spicer to the canvas 2 times in the first round. The first time had it been anything but a championship bout, the bout might have been stopped in favour of Cave. Spicer was wobbly even at the count of 8. Spicer's hometown audience went crazy supporting their athlete by chanting his name to give Spicer some needed support and drive. In the first round, Spicer also connected well and Cave also at times was wobbly on his feet but the BC native was never to hit the canvas. In the 2nd round, Spicer was again dropped by Cave's ferocious right hand. Spicer got up and decided to turn the tables and did he very surprisingly with effectiveness. Spicer set up a high roundhouse kick to the neck which dropped Cave to the canvas for a 10 count and beyond. The bout was a war and worthy of being the main event on any card in Canada. Cave 'can hit with his right hand' and Spicer has proven he can hit very hard as well, but more importantly proved he has the heart of a champion!

The Semi Main Event featured Alberta's Darcy Stromsmoe (Cheney's) battling against Saskatchewan's Graham Weenk (Aurora) for the WKA Western Canadian Superwelterweight Muay Thai Title. These 2 athletes had recently attempted to do battle in the past but the first bout was ruled a no contest when one of the athletes could not continue after an unintentional foul in the 1st round. This was not to be repeated as this bout made the full distance of 5 rounds. During this bout, both athletes threw some exceptional Muay Thai technique especially in the clinch. Excellent knees scored well for both athletes (this was a modified rules bout not allowing elbow attacks). As the bout progressed, Weenk seemed to lose steam whereas Stromsmoe seemed to gain momentum (especially with the hometown crowd support). At the end of the bout, Stromsmoe was declared the winner and the new owner of the vacant title. Stromsmoe also won the Best In Town Fighter Award at this event.

The undercard featured the following entertaining bouts:
- Edmonton's Mike Bell (Bergeron) battled against Red Deer's Jason Friesen (Cheney's) in a Kickboxing rules (low kick) bout. In the first round Friesen was the aggressor but as the bout progressed, Bell was to figure that Friesen had a tough time fighting while being pressed. In the 2nd round, Bell delivered a hard punch which connected on Friesen's head and the bout was stopped at the 2:00 minute mark of the 2nd round. Bell was declared the winner.
- Sue McLeod (Black Dragon) stepped into the ring against Cheryl McRobbie (Cheney's) in a low kick bout. The bout started off with both athletes being even in skills but as the bout progressed, McLeod was to prove she was in better shape and with this advantage, she pressed the bout and scored more effectively. McRobbie proved she is a true fighter but she just did not have enough left towards the end of the bout to dispute an unanimous decision going to McLeod.

- Jason Taylor (National) stepped into the ring against a younger Scott Williams (Victory). Taylor was to have a difficult time with this bout because as he pursued Williams, he would get hit with a lot of leather in order to score the more telling blows. In the 1st round, Williams was dropped by a strong right hand body shot. Williams made the count and managed to survive for the rest of the round. In round 2, Taylor had his opponent back pedaling during the bout but he would still take several shots in order to land some. In the final round, Taylor smothered Williams and started dishing out the punishment to the legs and body of his foe. A sharp boxing combination left Williams helpless and the referee decided to stop the bout. Taylor won the bout by 3rd round TKO. Taylor was to win the Best Out of Town Fighter Award at the event.

- Craig Douglas (Cheney's) won an unanimous decision over a very game and talented Roger McNair (Victory). The 2 heavyweights really showed their stuff in this low kick rules bout.

- Cathey Howey (Seven Stars) won a split decision over Kristin Fraser (Cheney's) in their 3 round bout.

- Raf Sedliecki (Arashi-Do) battled against Mike Gallagher (Lightning Fist). The taller Sedliecki would be surprised at times by the shorter Gallagher's will to win. Sedliecki scored the more effective blows and won the bout by unanimous decision.

- Dave Settle (Bergeron) battled with Rick Featherstone (Cheney's). Settle was to win the bout by a much more effective work ethic (especially on the inside) with excellent body punches.

- Michelle Vacova (Pemberton) squared off with Justine St. Martin (Seven Stars). In the 1st round, St. Martin was to overwhelm her opponent with a whirling dervish of hand and foot attacks. By the 2nd round, Vacova had found her rhythm and she pressed the fight with a more effective battle plan having her win the bout by unanimous decision. - Vanessa Albers (Cheney's) competed against Lee Anne Leisemar (Lightning Fist). The shorter Leisemar proved she had the heart of a tiger but she fell short in the kick department. Albers scored more effectively with kicks and to top it off, seemed to finish the exchanges a little more effectively giving her the nod of the judges.

The evening featured 2 exhibition bouts: Tricia Featherstone (Cheney's) battled against Jen Marshall (Victory) in a very competitive low kick match. Superheavyweight Keith Crawford stepped into the ring against Andre Beaulieu, whom had his scheduled opponent pull out. Both matches were very well received by the audience.