PREVIOUS EVENTS 2001




"PUNCH & CRUNCH # 4 - WINTER WARFARE" - (Calgary, Canada) February 3rd, 2001



Calgary's first fight event of the 2001 year took place on Saturday February 3rd at 7:15 PM. The event was called "Winter Warfare" and was slated to consist of 9 bouts and 1 exhibition, but this changed to 8 bouts with 2 exhibition bouts as the evening wore on. All of the bouts were fought under Kickboxing rules as the several athletes who had promised to come and fight under Muay Thai rules were later to admit they "were not in the shape thus they cancelled their bouts at the last moment". The promoter Mike Miles was happy with the way the small event turned out. The card took place at Mike Miles National Kickboxing and Muay Thai - Northwest Facility which can seat around 400 spectators. Between 400 to 450 people attended the 'smoker' (a small club event which is designed to keep athletes busy and keep some action available to the fight crowd in the city of Calgary while the promoter is working on larger international and televised events). Standing room only was filled to the maximum. Athletes attended the event from across the province of Alberta, as well as from B.C. and Saskatchewan. "Originally, I wanted to try and have a complete evening of only women's bouts contested under Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Grappling rules, but it is unfortunate how things change. Fighters get injured and or pull out at the last moment so I decided I would match whomever I could for this event and give a quality event to the paying public. Being the event is only a month after everyone has just gotten back to serious training from the Christmas lull, I think I was very lucky to end up with the highly spirited fights that were contested," said promoter Mike Miles. "This complete women's event is something I am going to work on in an upcoming event during this year some time." With this event, most of the athletes were very green in the experience department, but the bouts were all very evenly matched.

The outcome of the evening is as follows:

The Main Event of the evening featured Trish Kingsford (trained by Mike Miles) defending her WKA Women's Canadian Lightweight Kickboxing Title against challenger Tamarra Price (trained by Steve Bergeron). The title defense was scheduled for 5 rounds. This was the bout that everybody in the audience came to see and they were not going to be disappointed. Kingsford stepped into the ring cocky and ready to rumble. Price was in good shape and this was proven by the fact that she recovered very well from some of the shots she took. Kingsford did expose a little bit of ring rust having had a lot of her opponents pull out on her in the last short while. In the fourth round a solid left dropped Price to the canvas but the challenger showed she had good heart and a great chin by getting up and battling on until the very end. The Champion knew one direction and that was forward. Kingsford retained her title by an unanimous decision.

The Semi-Main Event was a battle for the vacant WKA Western Canadian Women's Western Canadian Lightweight Kickboxing Title. This was also scheduled to be battled over 5 rounds of 2 minutes. The principles in this bout were Anna Mravcak (Regina's Spirit of the Dragon) against Sandra Bastian (Black Dragon). Both of these athletes were a little more reserved and cautious during their exchanges in this match. Scoring with both the hands and feet was pretty even and when it came down to winning the title, this result was evident. Bastian won the title by a split decision.

Hopefully in the near future, the WKA Women's Canadian Lightweight Kickboxing Champion will take a challenge from the WKA Women's Western Canadian Kickboxing Champion and we believe this will be quite some war. We will keep you posted when this bout will be signed.

The undercard featured the following results:

Shelley Evans (Miles National) stepped into the ring against Amanda Faulks (Pemberton, BC). This was to be a toe to toe war. In the first round, Evans was getting the better of the exchanges but she seemed to be losing steam. Sensing this, in the second and third round, Faulks was full tilt ahead and though Evans did some effective counter punching, she just could not keep up to the work pace of Faulks who won the bout by unanimous decision.

Jennifer Cutbill (Miles National) stepped into the ring against Hillary Ibbott (Regina's Spirit of the Dragon). Cutbill stepped into the ring weighing significantly less and with less reach. Ibbott really came on strong in the first round but appeared a little flabbergasted at Cutbill's ability to end the exchanges. Cutbill's cut kicks were throwing Ibbott's rhythm off. In the second and third round Cutbilll went full bore ahead. Though Ibbott was not out of the running and she herself was never out of steam, Cutbill dictated a steady hard working pace and the result was an unanimous decision in favor of Cutbill. A very good fight.

Rick Featherstone (Cheney's) stepped into the ring against Roger McNair (Victory).There was a significant weight difference heading into this bout but both coaches had agreed to the weight difference. The first round was a constant exchange of punches and kicks. By the second round, a series of blows that Featherstone took sent him to the canvas. McNair won by second round TKO.

Dallas Johnson (Miles National) stepped into the ring with the tenacious 'wildcat' LeeAnne Liesemer (Lightning Fist). Johnson had a significant weight and height advantage on Liesemer who had the advantage in the experience department. This was a very exciting bout. In Dallas' last 3 bouts she has shown little for power and desire to fight whereas Liesemer has a big following of fans because of her warrior's heart. Liesemer keeps coming and coming but tonight Johnson seemed to put it together. As soon as the shorter Liesemer came stepping into range, Johnson would intercept with teep's and follow with crisp straight punches. Dallas won the bout by unanimous decision.

Kristen Fraser (Cheney's) stepped into the ring against Jennifer Herman (Victory). Both gals weighed the same and neither had been in the ring before. The first round was an excellent display of skills from both gals. By the second round Fraser started getting the upper hand in the punch department and Herman could take no more. Fraser won the bout by 2nd round TKO.

Julio Flores (Miles National) was to step into the ring against the heavier and more fight experienced Jason Bryant (Black Dragon). Just before the fight was to take place Flores turned pale as a sheet and backed out of the fight. At the last moment Trevor Smandych gloved up and stepped into the ring with the willing Bryant. The exhibition was a nice demonstration of calmness and skill from Bryant. Bryant exhibitioned for the audience and he still takes the bout as a victory by walk-over of Julio Flores.

Mladen Kulganin (Victory) made his fight debut against Darrin Cave (Pemberton BC). Kulganin tried to rely on the use of his kicks whereas Cave came in with wide looping punches. Cave won the bout by second round TKO through the use of his punches.

Mike Bell (National Edmonton) came in very heavy (12 pounds over) his agreed upon weight to battle against Scott Williams (Victory). The weight division was at welterweight which has a weight limit of 147 lbs. but even Williams came in 4 lbs. under the weight limit. Keeping the safety of the fighters in mind had this bout changed to an exhibition match.

"We are all of a sudden running into problems trying to get athletes to come in on the weight they (the athletes coach, manager or athlete themselves) say they will make when they accept a bout. Athletes must make an attempt to make this weight and if several weeks before the scheduled event, they are severely over the targeted weight, they should communicate with the promoter and let the promoter decide what to do about the scheduled bout," said Mike Miles.

Mr. Miles did not attend the event because of his recovery from surgery that was recently performed to correct some of his problems and ailments from his motorcycle accident arising from last year. A 'big thank you' goes out to Jason Fenton, Trevor Smandych, Nick Ring and so many other countless individuals who are always so giving in the support of these events.