PREVIOUS EVENTS 2004

Results

'YOUNG GUNS' - (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) May 8th, 2004
Promoter Mike Miles promoted the second fight event of the year in Calgary. The event was called 'Young Guns' and was developed to showcase the up and coming talent in Canada. The audience was treated to some great fights (worthy of television) and all the athletes brought their best game face to the event.

The fight event was attended by approximately 1000 people (982 paid plus a few promo tickets). "Considering this city is in the midst of Flames fever, I think we did quite well!", said Mike Miles. The fights ran smooth, though leading into the actual fight a few curve balls were thrown. More on this during the report*.

The event featured top coaches including Mike Miles, Barry Croucher, Trevor Smandych, Scott Hicks, Thongsay Sanhtytham, Andy Suitela, Trevor Hardy, Darrin Davis, and Kwame Stephens. "Everyone one of the coaches was a class act to deal with and the athletes were awesome. All these guys make promoting a pleasure! A big thank you to the coaches, athletes, volunteers, sponsors... and the list goes on and on. I am pretty blessed with the people around me!", said Mike Miles.

The event featured a co-main event. The first event* was to feature Canada's Jason Cutbill (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 4, 1, 0) battling against the USA's Joshua Dalton (Thongsay - Thongsay / 2, 1, 0) in a three round modified Muay Thai rules match. Two weeks before the event Dalton had found himself in a self defense skirmish and he was still sporting some good bruises from the encounter during his arrival in Calgary. Being the fighter he truly is, Dalton came to Canada to scrap with Cutbill but on the day of the event (actually one hour before the event), he was prohibited from fighting as per the local Commission doctor. Feeling bad, Dalton then even asked if he could still fight using full equipment but the answer was still a resounding "No!" from the doctor. "Josh was very upset but his health is very important and I do not disagree with the doctors call. Both athletes were very disappointed learning the fight was off with only an hour until the start of the fights, but they will get a chance to tangle again soon", said Mike Miles.

The second co-main event was a great fight by any standards and was very worthy of television. Calgary's Phil Leier (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 8, 3, 0) stepped it up against Edmonton's Jay Percival (Windwarriors - Croucher / 12, 8, 0). This was a full Muay Thai rules bout battled over five rounds. "Percival has just returned from a long training stint in Thailand and I expected him to look very good and possess good skills. He looked very good and as a consequence, Jay's good skills brought Leier up a notch (a big one at that)", said Mike Miles. Leier controlled the tempo of the first three rounds with his long range tiip's and his roundhouse kciks to the body. By no means was Percival out of the mix, but Leier was to press, make Percival miss and counter quite effectively. The two athletes demonstrated some excellent skills in the clinch for the audience with some great spinning and delivering of the knees. In round two and three Leier was to ring Percival's bell but being the slick technician Percival was, he used the ring effectively to try and get out of trouble. By the fifth round, Leier was far ahead on the points but his endurance seemed to be sluggish and though he battled valiantly, Percival was to slightly take this round with a better work ethic. Leier was to take the bout by unanimous decision. A great showing by both athletes. "Leier looked far better than I have given him credit for and he surprised me with some of the skills he demonstrated. Percival is very good and his showing was awesome. This was a very impressive fight that had the audience on its feet for the majority of the bout. Leier and Percival have made big fans out of me", said Mike Miles. This was hands down the fight of the night and both athletes were to win the best in town and best out of town athlete awards!

On the undercard:

- In a bout for the vacant >WKA Western Canadian Welterweight Muay Thai Title, Calgary's Omer King (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 11, 3, 0) squared off against Lethbridge's Adam Bambrick (Progressive - Hardy / 4, 3, 0). Bambrick had just fought Calgary's Phil Leier dropping him in the third round with an awesome neck kick and still lost a split decision. Feeling he is worthy of a title shot, Bambrick was to get his chance here. This bout had King on the outside using long range kicks and punches to keep the taller Bambrick at bay. In the fourth and fifth round Bambrick really picked it up a few notches and came back strong. He hurt King with a few shots who immediately and surprisingly rebounded back with some excellent counters. Overall a technical fight with King winning the title by unanimous decision. "Omer, it is about time you got to shine a little. Adam, you have a very bright future ahead of you as well. You guys were good!", said Mike Miles.

- Jason Primmer (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 6, 0, 0) battled against American Brian Robertson (Pla Chalaarm Muay Thai - Hicks / 10, 2, 1). The bout was under modified Muay Thai rules. This was a good bout. In the first round Primmer was clearly to win it with good pressure, punches and kicks. In the second round it was much closer with the officials still giving the nod to the Canadian boy. The third round was Robertson all the way. "I was surprised by the decision and I thought that Robertson took the fight. Though I was somewhat surprised by the outcome, I really need to see the tape to make the correct judgement. Regardless, I would like to see these two rematch soon", said Mike Miles. Primmer won the bout by unanimous decision.

- In a very popular fight, Calgary's Nate Smandych (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 1, 3, 0) stepped up against the vastly more experienced American Renni Guinn (Thongsay - Thongsay / 9, 5, 0) in a modified Muay Thai rules match. Smandych fought best on the outside making his smaller opponent miss quite frequently but Guinn was to force the fight to the clinch and outwork the Canadian on the inside. Smandych was to land some very fast roundhouse kicks to his opponents head but Guinn just seemed to brush them off. "Samndych needs to listen to his coaches a little more but he is still very early in his career. Guinn looked the part and came with the intention of winning. He made a big fan out of me", said Mike Miles. Guinn was to win the fight by split decision.

- Sandra Bastian (Miek Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 6, 6, 0) battled against the game American Avigail Yahuda (Pla Chalarm Muay Thai - Hicks / 2, 5, 0) in a modified Muay Thai bout. The bout had Bastian controlling the fight both on the outside as well as the inside. Yahuda did quite well in the clinch but just did not possess the power her Canadian foe did. Bastian was to take the bout by unanimous decision. "Sandra delivered some excellent knees and controlled the clinch quite well. I am proud that she did what was asked of her. Yahuda really pushed Bastian and showed she has heart galore!", said Mike Miles.

The remaining bouts were all fought under Kickboxing (low kick) rules. The results were:

- Darren Snell (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 5, 1, 0) battled against Surrey's Stewart Judd (Suuitela - Suitela / 1, 1, 0). Judd was to try and work Snell's legs with low kicks but they were to prove to not have the power he required. Snell was to force the fight and in between a combination of low kicks and body punches, was to stop his opponent in the second round. A very game fight by Judd who tried to deal with the onslaught of Snell. Snell by 2nd round TKO.

- Sylvie Charbonneau (National - Smandych / 0, 1, 0) battled against American Amy Davis (World Gym - Davis / 1, 1, 0). This was an exciting women's bout with Davis winning the bout by unanimous decision. "Davis looked good and pressed the fight with a combination of kicks and punches. Charbonneau has been working hard to make the transition from he last coach who taught her traditional Muay Thai to being able to use her hands. She showed great improvement here. She still needs to be a little more fluid with her hands but that will come. Congrats to Amy on a good win and Sylvie, we will fix your hands. Great fight!", said Mike Miles.

-Kirby MacInnes (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 5, 2, 0) came back to the ring after a long lay off. Her opponent Mandy Hemelon made her ring debut against the more experienced Macinnes. Hemelan fought back strongly and effectively in the first and second round but by the third round seemed to be out of gas while MacInnes pressed forward. A knockdown in the third was to clinch the victory for Macinnes.

- The opening bout of the evening was to feature Phillip Cress (National - Smandych / 1, 0, 0) squaring off against Alireza Fadaie Khoi (Suitela - Suitela / 4, 3, 0). Khoi seemed to have some trouble finding his range while Cress looked sharp and strong picking his shots with good power. A big punch was to drop and stop Khoi in the first round. Cress was the winner by first round KO.

In a big disappointment for Calgary's Kevin Brakefield (Mike Miles Muay Thai - Calgary / 5, 1, 0), his American opponent made it into Calgary on the day of the weigh in. Unfortunately, Canadian Immigration would not allow the American through into Canada and he was sent home on the next available flight to the USA."Kevin, do not worry, you will be on the next event. Things like this are out of everyone's control. I feel bad you did not get a chance to shine but you will on the next event", said Mike Miles.