Promoter Mike Miles of Mike Miles Productions was treated to a roller coaster ride leading into the 'Battle at the Base', the final Muay Thai and Kickboxing event of 2003. Hosted by the SUN Centre, the venue was a perfect place for the event to be filmed for Canada's sports network, TSN. On the up side, the event was totally sold out, beyond standing room only! Over 3000 people came to witness the show. Every fight was very competitive, entertaining and had full audience participation.

Unfortunately, on the down side, a principle athlete in one of the co-main event bouts caused much turmoil by being a no show bringing the house to a very scary situation indeed. "We have been put into a situation that must be dealt with to our satisfaction by Danny Steele and Mike Miles Productions", said Mike Miles. "Mr. Steele athlete knows what he must do or he will not like where it leads financially."

The event featured a co-main event. Calgary's Trevor 'T.N.T.' Smandych was to face the hardest test and fight for his life yet. He was to fight his kickboxing idol, American Danny Steele. The USA athlete had signed a fight contract (held by the Calgary Boxing & Wrestling Commission). He assured the promoter that he would be coming to the event after 'missing' several of his flights, in the days before the event. The flight ticket to Canada was purchased well in advance of the event for Steele to come and fight Smandych by the promoter. The promoter has taped messages from Steele promising that he has never screwed anyone over and that he would be flying in the day of the event for the fight. On the day of the event, the promoter had an assistant sitting at the airport waiting for Steele to arrive from 12:00 noon until after the event itself had started. When it was finally realized that Steele was not going to attend, the bout was cancelled. The audience was informed of the bout cancellation during the intermission between the first and second half of the event. "I felt the audience could have turned very ugly, very fast", said a Calgary newspaper reporter. However, promoter Mike Miles and then Trevor 'T.N.T' Smandych managed to appease the crowd. Smandych, on the verge of tears during his presentment of the WKA Professional North American Welterweight Muay Thai Title by default (which he pushed away and would not accept), was the epitome of class apologizing to his legion of fans and then thanking his sponsors, settling even the most stubborn fan down.

The Calgary SUN reports that Steele missed his (Thursday and rebooked Friday) flights and on the night before the event claiming he had a shoulder injury. Then what was discovered is Steele admitted to being 8 pounds over the fighting weight, and that was why he never caught his flights. The promoter told him to catch the plane and the fight would still happen, though not for the title in the contracted division. Steele agreed and promised to show up the next day (the day of the event) and fight Smandych. "I have never f----d anyone before. I promise I will be there to fight," said Steele.

According to reports promoter Mike Miles is planning to pursue Steel legally for breaking a binding contract reported the Calgary SUN newspaper. "Danny Steele... you knew know what was expected of you", said a very disappointed Trevor Smandych. "I'm so disappointed. I've wanted to fight this guy forever. All my training has been for this match", Smandych said in the Calgary SUN.

What is next for Smandych? "I am now turning my attention to the 2004 C-MAX 8 man tournament", said a very distraught Smandych.

As a consequence of Steele's no show, the other co-main event became the sole main event. Erin Linley (Mike Miles - Calgary) squared off against Ria Ramnarine of Trinidad-Tobago. At stake was the vacant WIKBA Professional World Flyweight Muay Thai Title. "The lead up to this fight was crazy", said Mike Miles. "I was averaging 500 e-mails a night. These e-mails were broken down into 2 partisan groups, Pro Boxing vs. Pro Muay Thai. The interest this fight garnered was incredible. Shame that many felt this fight was a style versus style thing (Boxing vs. Muay Thai). To me it was a good fight for both. Ria is a world rated boxer as well as world rated kickboxer. Erin is a world rated kickboxer and Thai boxer. The head of the WIKBA organization (President Dan Cucich) suggested the bout and felt this was a great match up. We (Erin and I) treated the fight with Ria as a big threat and with the greatest of respect for Ria!"

Linley followed her game plan. She was very patient, intercepting, countering and going from range to range at will. Surprisingly, Ramnarine did not avoid the clinch but seemed to want to get close to try and let Linley wear herself down while at the same time trying to punch to Linley's midsection. This strategy was not work as Linley never slowed down on her blistering work rate with the knee while in the clinch from the opening bell starting the fight to the final bell finishing the fight. Ramnarine tried using her arms to block all the incoming knees but this was to backfire (After the bout, she was to have her arms packed in ice to bring the swelling down). Linley was merciless were her knees, pounding Ramnarine's legs, body and arms in the clinch. Many athletes would have went down from the hammering of the knee attacks.

By round four Linley changed her game plan. To show she could box and kick as well, Linley started forcing Ramnarine backwards to the ropes. The knee attacks to her arms made it difficult for Ramnarine to punch in the later rounds. But even during the final rounds of this event, Ramnarine would be moved back into a corner from pressure and she would still rebound to try and back Linley up. Ramnarine and Linley remained expressionless and focused for the five rounds. True professionals through the whole fight. In rounds four and five, Linley picked it up and was determined to knock Ramnarine out. Her opponent proved extremely resilient. At the end of the five rounds, Linley was declared the new WIKBA Professional World Flyweight Muay Thai Champion by unanimous decision. "Ria is one tough athlete and she took a lot of punishment and I do not say that negatively", said Mike Miles. "I say it with respect. Many of the shots Ria took would have made most athletes at the very least, wince. Ria showed nothing. Ria thank you for the fight. Erin, congratulations on your second professional world title. But, remember there is still so much to learn!"

What is up next for Linley? Prospective fights in Japan and a rematch with Ramnarine in her own country under low kick rules. She is also going to be a Superfight at the 2004 C-MAX 2 tournament in February 2004. More to be announced on this soon.

The undercard featured some very exciting match ups.

Professional Fights:

Rami Ibrahim (Sitan Gym - New York) squared off with Daniel Christian (Gold Lion - Vancouver) in an international Muay Thai Prestige match. The bout was battled under modified rules. The bout was to prove to be very competitive with Christian showing improved skills since his performance in the 2003 C-Max. Christian was to land several kicks to the face of Ibrahim who seemed to take the blows without consequence. However, Ibrahim was to follow his game plan to the maximum and was to stop Christian in round three. Blistering punches were to catch Christian as he was walking in. Ibrahim was to win the bout by TKO and add the win of the international prestige match to his record. A great performance by two solid athletes.

Adam Higson (Hamilton Muay Thai) squared off with Winnipeg athlete Joe Zychowka (Canadian Muay Thai and Kickboxing Center). These two athletes have wanted to fight for some time. This bout was also fought under modified rules. The action ebbed and flowed back and forth between these two athletes. Neither could seem to shake the other during this encounter. "Higson appeared busier, while Zychowka seemed to land the stronger blows", said a Calgary news reporter. Higson threw a lot more leather but seemed to land a smaller percentage on what he threw compared to Zychowka who threw less but seemed to land a higher percentage of his blows. The bout was very close. In the end, the bout was awarded by split decision to Higson. These two gave a great performance but with the decision a rematch is something both seem to favor.

Amateur Fights:

Scott Clark (Mike Miles - Calgary) stepped into the ring against the highly respected Shawn Yarborough (Hybrid Academy of Martial Arts - USA) in a full Muay Thai rules match. The bout opened with Clark trying to 'find his feet'. Appearing a little slow off the line, Yarborough made it look like that Clark would not be much of a threat as Yarborough easily controlled the gap and seemed to be a step ahead of Clark. However, in round two things changed drastically. Clark found his feet (so to speak) and started pressuring the American. When Clark came in close and the two athletes clinched, he would land short fast elbows and even knees to the Americans head. In round two a beautiful knee to the body was to drop Yarborough. As he was falling to the canvas Clark hit the American in the head with a follow up knee. After the eight count, Clark exploded forward a delivered a flying knee which caught the American in the belly. Saved by the bell, the American made it back to the corner. In round three Clark was to force Yarborough back into the corner and use all his weapons. Effortlessly Clark went from punch, to kick, to elbow, to clinch and knee. It proved to be too much and the bout was stopped with Clark winning the bout by a third round TKO. Clark appears to be back as a Canadian Muay Thai force to be reckoned with (having only fought one other time in the last three years). Great to see you back Scotty!

Rayelene Kellock (Mike Miles - Calgary) squared off with Nathalie Fuz (Five Points - New York). This was a very close fight. On the outside Kellock took the upper hand outscoring Fuz with front kicks, low kicks and punches. But Fuz used her determination to walk through connecting shots and forced Rayelene into the clinch. On the inside Fuz proved to be stronger than Kellock. At times, Fuz would literally twist and whip Kellock around the ring. During the clinch, Kellock would answer with some very strong knees of her own but she was being outworked in the knee strike department by a small margin. Mike Miles said, "When my athletes fight I get emotionally involved. Rather than seeing Rayelene scoring on the outside I saw Fuz getting into the clinch easier than I would have liked. As such I knew the fight was close. I felt that Fuz might have taken the fight three rounds to two. But in all fairness to Kellock, I would like to watch the videotape when I am a little more distant to the fight and see if my impressions were correct or not." Kellock was to take the win by a split decision. These two girls should rematch and both are receptive to the idea. Mike Miles was to further say, "Great fight! Nathalie, I loved your clinch work! Phom chowb, chowb maak! D-E-L-U-X-E!"

In a bout for the WKA Canadian Superwelterweight Muay Thai Title, Chris Rolsten (National - Edmonton) battled against Levi Kump (Frank Lee's - Edmonton). At the opening bell, Rolsten sprang out of the corner and seemed to overwhelm his opponent with a barrage of punches, kicks, elbows (spinning elbows - some of which landed) and even knees. One landed to Kump's head which opened a cut on the lips. As the bout progressed Kump remained calm and weathered the storm fighting back technically and keeping Rolsten at bay. As the bout progressed, Rolsten seemed to slow down and not looking as sharp as he did at the beginning of the match. Rolsten was to receive a cut on the forehead from a blistering counter by Kump. However in round four Rolsten found more steam and landed several spinning elbows to the head of his foe. Kump appeared dazed and hurt, so the referee stopped the bout and Rolsten won the title by a fourth round TKO. Congratulations to the WKA Canadian Superwelterweight Muay Thai Champion (full rules), Chris Rolsten.

The opening bout of the evening was a scorcher. It featured Jesse Miles (Mike Miles - National) battling against Al Murray (Campbell River) in a modified Muay Thai bout. The first round had Miles scoring at will while remaining very calm while Murray tried to score. In the first two rounds, Miles was to handily take Murray to the ground with many good leg kicks. In the third, Miles landed a crushing right hand which dropped Murray. After the eight count Miles tried to finish Murray who weathered the storm. Miles was spent and during rounds four and five Murray came back big and kept Miles moving backwards. Towards the end of round five Miles was to land another right hand which hurt Murray but he did not have the time or energy to finish his foe off. Murray has great heart and can take a punch. Miles won the decision unanimously.

Mike Miles has plans for a big event to be promoted at the Calgary SUN Centre and is as well in negotiations to bring professional boxing back to Calgary.

The next big Muay Thai / Kickboxing fight event planned for TSN in Calgary is the 2004 C-MAX 2. "This time it gets personal", is the opening ad for the blockbuster event planned for early 2004. The event will also feature 3 Superfights. Last years event was a sell out and 2004 shows no evidence of being any different.