A bloody good time
Local kickboxing show entertains fans
RANDELL BALDONADO
PHOTO BY CHARLES CUEVAS.
The fans came for the main event, but it was under-card fighter Sam Roberts that stole the show at Fierce Fight IV, on March 10 at the Lid. Roberts’ TKO victory over Winnipegger Guy Langlois overshadowed the main-event exhibition bout between Jude Ormond and Brad Wall.
Roberts threw many combinations early in the first round, forcing Guy Langlois to defend: circling the outskirts of the ring. The crowd cheered for their hometown fighter, begging him to hold his ground, but Robert’s stiff jabs and forward pressure kept Langlois against the ropes.
Langlois walked back to his corner after the first round bell, his face bloodied and chest smeared with crimson. His head was low and blood spilled down his nostrils as he exhaled.
Roberts knocked back Langlois with a stiff jab early in round two. Roberts’ uppercut also found its mark; his leather glove shot up between Langlois guard, connected with his bony chin, and flailed Langlois’ head back, sprinkling drops of blood on the front row.
Roberts dominated the pace by cutting off the ring with his footwork. Langlois was unable to back off the stronger opponent. Roberts continued to charge in, landing boxing combinations and leg kicks. The crowd quieted as the round continued. By the closing seconds of the round, only despair could be heard in the crowd’s silence as their local fighter was pummeled.
Langlois walked to his corner and fell on his stool at the end of the second round; he did not get up to fight in the third.
Ten other bouts filled the card, many of which were exhibitions, where no victors were proclaimed.
Dustin Gibson fought David Chang in an exhibition bout. The fighters treated each other with dignity, much to the disdain of the heckling crowd.
Holly Harrison defeated Claire Roberts in a bout that was filled with flurrying looping punches and wild right hands. Harrison’s height advantage proved to be too much, as she was able to keep Roberts at a distance.
John Laterveer and Clint Mikkelson’s exhibition bout displayed their mutual skills in a muay thai clinch. Mikkelson landed a few knees in the clinch and Laterveer defended and landed a stiff counter shot.
Kayvon Karimrhani’s straight punches met Tony Cianflone’s nose in the fifth fight. Cianflone fired looping punches more aggressively, more brawling than fighting. Both combatants exhausted themselves early in the second round, leading to an uneventful third round. Karimrhani won the bout in a split decision.
Cara Chell fought Melanie Goulet in the second female fight of the night. Chell landed her straights but could not win the distance war against Goulet’s teeps (foot jabs). Goulet used the teep to set up larger shots as the fight went on. Goulet answered every one of Chell’s attacks with big rights, body combinations, and knees in the clinch. Goulet’s performance won her the decision.
Michelle Easton’s fight with Angel Anderson was overshadowed when the crowd became restless after Anderson constantly needed to adjust her falling headgear and the referee needed to accommodate.
The large Chris Molley fired wild hooks at Chase Degenhardt, but could not find his target. Degenhardt used a much sounder strategy, connecting with straighter punches and taking out Molley’s base with leg kicks. After several knockdowns, and after a cut to Molley’s eye, his corner threw in the towel to end the fight.
Two experienced fighters met in the ninth fight: Brent Hoffman and Chase Arkossy. Arkossy used deep leg kicks and a hard right leg body shot to gain an early advantage in the first round, but Hoffman managed to come back, landing a counter shot dropping Arkossy to the ground. Hoffman cornered Arkossy in the second round and landed a number of flurries. Hoffman continued to pressure Arkossy in the third round; he was too tired to stop the advance with his teeps. Hoffman won by decision.
In the main event, Jude Ormond fought Brad Wall. Neither fighter was willing to commit to their strikes; the bout was more of a sparring match than an exhibition bout. Ormond was faster and landed more shots and combinations, but did not faze Wall. Wall threw more sparingly, but landed larger blows. Near the close of the bout, Wall stunned the crowd with a spinning back-kick to Ormond’s gut.
Of course, since this fight was also an exhibition, neither Ormond nor Wall’s arms were raised in victory, ending the night on an anti-climactic note.
