Well done Randy

[jay23]

I see Randy Pogue won a Pro Boxing match over the weekend, hows about going for an IKF title now "Professor"?? Congrats on another good win.

[Randy Pogue]

Thanks for the support. Yes, I'd like to fight for an IKF title. I'm still bent about the Super-middleweight deal, but we'll see. Here's where it stands.

I think that the ISKA giving me an ultimatum about having my eyes fixed would have been the professional thing to do, instead of stripping me, and I thought that I wasn't alone in that opinion. http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/wwwboard/images/smilies/frown.gif The fact that apparently I COULD have fought without my contacts, which I have never done before, doesn't make it ok to strip me without saying, "be ready to fight in 120 days, or else." Brian sells tickets, and he'd have sold tickets even if Nov. 12 was for the ISKA USA title, instead of a world title. Then we could have set the fight up for the spring, and it would have all been good, no harm, no foul.

Now, suddenly, the fight is also an IKF WORLD TITLEfight. When did this happen? Their new involvement in this situation tacitly endorses the stripping of my title. Steve could say what Cory did was right, or was wrong, but involving the IKF in the situation condones, without question, what I believe is a situation that people would normally want to distance themselves from, not join into. http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/wwwboard/images/smilies/confused.gif Whatever. I guess I don't think Steve is doing this maliciously. I suppose that having another IKF champ from either New York OR California strengthens the position of the IKF for future promotions.

So, if I cool off about it, maybe I'll fight the winner, although I've already fought Tom Bottone before. If I don't cool off, the IKF Light-heavy title is vacant. This is the 3rd time I've mentioned it here, but I can't find out who is active in that division. I haven't seen any of the top 10 guys fight, so I have no opinion. Other than that, Ryan Madigan contacted me about fighting him on the 23rd, but the show got pushed back, and I'm going to try to have eye surgery in November, so I'll be out of commission for awhile.
Still kicking,
RP

[admin]

Randy,
The following is a reply from Steve Fossum of the IKF.
_____________________________________________


RANDY WROTE:
Now, suddenly, the fight is also an IKF WORLD TITLEfight. When did this happen?

IKF REPLY
We were asked about sanctioning an IKF Super Middleweight World title fight on this event over a month ago. Scott Coker informed us he wanted to promote Brian Swartz and he was challenging for it. When this came up, to us here at the IKF, we considered fighters such as:
Randy Pogue of course, Abu Zayd Nawaz, Ronnie Deleon, Anthony Bartinelli, Lex Easdon, Tommy Bottone, Eric Regan, Tommy Kimber and Frank Tropea. In this conversation, Scott suggested a co-sanction for Randy's ISKA World Title. Knowing Randy, we agreed it was a good match. Keep in mind, our first focus though was:
1: Filling an IKF Vacant Title.
2: We had a promoter who was willing to challenge for a World Title.

For the record, money was NOT an issue here.
____________________________

RANDY WROTE
Their new involvement in this situation tacitly endorses the stripping of my title.

IKF REPLY
This in NOT TRUE AT ALL! We DO NOT agree as to the actions that were taken by the iska. However, they acted upon information they knew for reasons they thought were justified. We, IKF, do not know ALL that was involved so we cannot speak for them.
____________________________

RANDY WROTE
Steve could say what Cory did was right, or was wrong, but involving the IKF in the situation condones, without question, what I believe is a situation that people would normally want to distance themselves from, not join into.

IKF REPLY
We were already involved Randy, with the idea of promoting Brian. The challenger across the ring was not the deciding factor. We knew we had a legit challenge for a VACANT IKF Title, what Scott and iska did as we made the decision of co-sanctioning was not discussed with us here at the IKF.
____________________________

RANDY WROTE
I guess I don't think Steve is doing this maliciously.

IKF REPLY
As well as we know each other Randy, you should know this was not directed as a negative towards you at all. We would be PROUD to have you as an IKF World Champion!
____________________________

RANDY WROTE
I suppose that having another IKF champ from either New York OR California strengthens the position of the IKF for future promotions.

IKF REPLY
Having a Champion does nothing of a sort. if this were true, we would be pushing World titles on every promoter we have. And we don't see where such a champion from a particular "region" would strengthen anything.
____________________________

RANDY WROTE
So, if I cool off about it, maybe I'll fight the winner, although I've already fought Tom Bottone before. If I don't cool off, the IKF Light-heavy title is vacant. This is the 3rd time I've mentioned it here, but I can't find out who is active in that division. I haven't seen any of the top 10 guys fight, so I have no opinion. Other than that, Ryan Madigan contacted me about fighting him on the 23rd, but the show got pushed back, and I'm going to try to have eye surgery in November, so I'll be out of commission for awhile.
Still kicking,

IKF REPLY
Hence the Jimmy Stewart problem Randy. If you have apromoter, we would love to see you challenge for the Title, or even the next one up. Let us know where we can assist, if at all. And to those possible challengers for you, or to the winner of this bout, "Bring It ON!"

Sincerely
Steve Fossum
IKF Kickboxing

[tommy bee]

I would like to thank the IKF and the ISKA for offering me this chance to fight for there world title.

I know that it was set up for Randy and it did not work out. There will be other opportunities for Randy in the future as he is a top contneder in all organizations.

I am happy that I am able to step up to the challenge as I just fought A few weeks ago and I am still in shape.

I promise this will be a great fight with 2 fighters coming to win. Fighters do not get A chance like this every day and I will take it as a the fight of my life.

Brian is A very sharp ,tall left handed fighter and I am very much looking foward to this challenge.

I have tremendous respect for Randy Pogue as I have known him for many years and traveled with him as well. As you said Randy we fought a long time ago and we are still friends.

This kind of respect is what makes this sport great.

I wish that we had more promoters like Scott Coker that where willing to put on great matches like this.

[Randy Pogue]

Thanks for the reply, Steve. Sorry if I came off as thinking you jumped in at the end, but let me explain why.
1) I would have thought that Scott would mention the unification, or potential for it, when he was talking to me about the fight. The IKF was never brought up.
2) When I received a reply from "ADMIN," on Sep. 30, it included the words "...when that fight is scheduled, remember, you could always add on the Title of another Organization as well...http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/wwwboard/images/smilies/wink.gif" That made me think that unification was a new and fun idea. That idea was a reality less than a week later.
I understand, perhaps everyone wanted to play close to the vest until details were finalized. Like the zen masters say, it is what it is, and it's all good.

As far as the benefit of NY or CA champions, it goes back to having a promoter. Having me as a World Champ doesn't promote as much activity, since I don't have a promoter of my own. Scott is a big promoter, and Tommy promotes shows often in the East. It wasn't a negative, just a thought about good business.

That's it. Thanks for hearing me, Steve. I hope that when I get the eye surgery, I'll be able to be more active, at whatever weight I'm at. Good luck to Brian and Tom. I'll make no predictions, although, being left-handed, I already called Tommy about getting together to spar in preparation for Brian. He just lives so damn far. And, just for the record, our training would not affect our abilities if Tommy won and we fought a unification. After all the years we've known, fought, and traveled with each other, we aren't bringing any surprises. Our fight would just be about who executed better on any given night...probably mehttp://www.ikfkickboxing.com/wwwboard/images/smilies/tongue.gif
RP

[SmackMaster]

randy, who did you beat for the title? i heard it was tommy, is this true? :confused:

[Jenna Droluk]

Randy defeated Tony Ventura for that ISKA super middleweight title in Dec. 2003.
You'll have to check with him or Tom Bottone, but I'm reasonably sure that Randy also fought and defeated Tom a while back, although I don't know if it was for a title or not.

[tommy bee]

Yes, Randy and I fought A 5 rd fight many years ago in Atlantic city at the Tropicana Casino hotel and he won on points.

I was very un happy with my fight performance or the fight over all as I thought that neither of us actually landed many effective shots.I was basically the agressor trying to land good puches and randy was the counter fighter trying to land more kicks with neither of us getting thru too much in the end.

I like exciting matches and this was not one of them.

Randy is a very strong fighter and has A very unique style which can be awkward at times .Randy will never be an easy opponent for any fighter.

We fought for A KICK east coast title on that night.