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09-27-2004, 12:31 PM
First Posted ON: 09-22-2004, 05:54 PM by P.J. Reilly
From wkausa.com
PRESS RELEASE
Basel, Switzerland
September 18, 2004
Basel, Switzerland (just an hour north of Zurich) close to the borders of Germany and France, was the site for the 2004 WKA and IAKSA Amateur World Kickboxing Championships held September 13th - 18th. This year's event combined the Ring Sports Divisions (Full Contact, Kickboxing, and Thai Boxing) with the "Karate" Divisions of Forms, Point Fighting, and Continuous Contact. It was an historical occassion as the WKA (World Kickboxing and Karate Association) and IAKSA (International Amateur Sport Karate Association) combined to have the largest amateur world championship of all time. The event was also topped off with a K-1 and WKA World Title Super Show Saturday evening featuring South Africa's Michael Bernardo and Switzerland's Peter Majstorovic vying for Andy Hug's former WKA World Title.
The total combined (WKA/IAKSA) US contingency was 100 strong (competitors, coaches, fans). The WKA US Ring Sports Division featured eight top fighters representing all divisions: Full Contact fighters were South Carolina's Shannon Hudson (-71kg), Virginia's Nelson LeBron (-57kg), and South Carolina's Dallas Crowe (-60kg), Kickboxing (Low Kick) fighters were Georgia's Paul Cantrell (-71kg), Nelson LeBron (-60kg), Virginia's Bertina Lee (-55kg), Georgia's Erin Cantrell (-63kg), Thai Boxing fighters were Michigan's Dan Pemble (-86kg), New York's Omar Ahmed (-60kg). Both Bertina Lee and Erin Cantrell were originally scheduled to do the women's Thai Boxing, but it was combined with the kickboxing division.
The three rings featured some very good fighters and stayed busy for the four straight days of matches. The quarter finals saw five of the US fighters going out in closely contested matches. US fighter Shannon Hudson breezed through the quarter finals with devastating wins, but was disqualified after missing a 10:15pm call to the ring. He had previously fought at 9:15pm and all thought he was done for the day. After several attempts at protest and the refusal of the Russian (IAKSA) coach to re-do the missed match, the DQ stood and left the US with three medal hopefuls.
Full Contact fighter Nelson LeBron stepped up to the plate for the US to try and take a medal in the kickboxing (low kick) division. LeBron fought hard taking advantage of his good hand skills, but was left with the bronze after a lost to the eventual gold medalist.
Erin Cantrell had a back and forth final match in her kickboxing (low kick) division and edged out her opponent from Germany to take the gold medal. Erin combined a powerful right hand and right low kick to outlast her opponent and take the decision with her more powerful shots.
With a bronze and a gold in the bag, the US had one last hope from Thai boxing great Dan Pemble. Dan's opponent from Kosova caught him with a good right cross early in the first round and stayed busy the whole remainder of the first round. From the sound of the bell of the second round, it seemed clear that Dan knew he was behind on the scorecards. He came out with strong low kicks and looking to clinch/knee whenever possible. The third round was a battle for the gold. Dan saw the clinch/knee as his best chance to win and his opponent knew it. It was down to a battle for Dan getting in range to clinch and knee and his opponent trying to prevent him with good hands and strong low kick. Even though the tough Korsovoian was able to off-balance Dan in the final round, Dan's inside knee work proved much too strong and swayed the judges' decision to give the US its second gold.
All the US fighters fought hard in this grueling tournament-style competition. All US fighters either won medals or lost close matches to an eventual medal winner. They're all to be commended. It takes alot to put it on the line against the best amateur fighters in the world. Some with two and three times the experience of the US team. The US coaches and fans were very pleased and proud of their team and the three medals out of eight competitors and look forward to next year were the Europeans will have to make the long trip to our side of the world, as the 2005 worlds will be in Canada. GO USA!!!
The world championships was capped off by a K-1 Super Heavyweight World Championship which featured eight professional matches. Semi-main event was for the WKA World Middleweight Muay Thai title and featured Switzerland Paulo Balicha against reigning titleholder Peter Polak from the Czech Republic. This bout went the distance and featured the best fighters of the evening. Much to the crowd's liking, the Swiss fighter Paulo took the decision and was crowned the new WKA World Champion. The main event, K-1 Heavyweight super fight, was also to determine the new WKA world heavyweight champion that was previously held by Andy Hug. This title has been left vacant after Andy's death six years ago. The bout featured Switzerland's Peter Majstorovic and South Africa's Mike Bernardo. It was clear from the start that Bernardo wanted to end the fight early with his heavy right cross and Majstorovic, the smaller opponent, hoping to evade the big right hand and wear Bernardo down with a variety of techniques including repeated spin kicks to the legs. The action was heavy, but came to an abrupt end in the middle of the bout with an alleged low blow by Majstorovic. Finally, after taunting by the crowd, Bernardo agreed to resume the action. Ahead on the scorecards, Bernardo attempted to evade and dance around the fifth and final round, but was dropped by Majstorovic. Bernardo beat the count and went on to take the decision and the title and end a great night and week of fights.
From wkausa.com
PRESS RELEASE
Basel, Switzerland
September 18, 2004
Basel, Switzerland (just an hour north of Zurich) close to the borders of Germany and France, was the site for the 2004 WKA and IAKSA Amateur World Kickboxing Championships held September 13th - 18th. This year's event combined the Ring Sports Divisions (Full Contact, Kickboxing, and Thai Boxing) with the "Karate" Divisions of Forms, Point Fighting, and Continuous Contact. It was an historical occassion as the WKA (World Kickboxing and Karate Association) and IAKSA (International Amateur Sport Karate Association) combined to have the largest amateur world championship of all time. The event was also topped off with a K-1 and WKA World Title Super Show Saturday evening featuring South Africa's Michael Bernardo and Switzerland's Peter Majstorovic vying for Andy Hug's former WKA World Title.
The total combined (WKA/IAKSA) US contingency was 100 strong (competitors, coaches, fans). The WKA US Ring Sports Division featured eight top fighters representing all divisions: Full Contact fighters were South Carolina's Shannon Hudson (-71kg), Virginia's Nelson LeBron (-57kg), and South Carolina's Dallas Crowe (-60kg), Kickboxing (Low Kick) fighters were Georgia's Paul Cantrell (-71kg), Nelson LeBron (-60kg), Virginia's Bertina Lee (-55kg), Georgia's Erin Cantrell (-63kg), Thai Boxing fighters were Michigan's Dan Pemble (-86kg), New York's Omar Ahmed (-60kg). Both Bertina Lee and Erin Cantrell were originally scheduled to do the women's Thai Boxing, but it was combined with the kickboxing division.
The three rings featured some very good fighters and stayed busy for the four straight days of matches. The quarter finals saw five of the US fighters going out in closely contested matches. US fighter Shannon Hudson breezed through the quarter finals with devastating wins, but was disqualified after missing a 10:15pm call to the ring. He had previously fought at 9:15pm and all thought he was done for the day. After several attempts at protest and the refusal of the Russian (IAKSA) coach to re-do the missed match, the DQ stood and left the US with three medal hopefuls.
Full Contact fighter Nelson LeBron stepped up to the plate for the US to try and take a medal in the kickboxing (low kick) division. LeBron fought hard taking advantage of his good hand skills, but was left with the bronze after a lost to the eventual gold medalist.
Erin Cantrell had a back and forth final match in her kickboxing (low kick) division and edged out her opponent from Germany to take the gold medal. Erin combined a powerful right hand and right low kick to outlast her opponent and take the decision with her more powerful shots.
With a bronze and a gold in the bag, the US had one last hope from Thai boxing great Dan Pemble. Dan's opponent from Kosova caught him with a good right cross early in the first round and stayed busy the whole remainder of the first round. From the sound of the bell of the second round, it seemed clear that Dan knew he was behind on the scorecards. He came out with strong low kicks and looking to clinch/knee whenever possible. The third round was a battle for the gold. Dan saw the clinch/knee as his best chance to win and his opponent knew it. It was down to a battle for Dan getting in range to clinch and knee and his opponent trying to prevent him with good hands and strong low kick. Even though the tough Korsovoian was able to off-balance Dan in the final round, Dan's inside knee work proved much too strong and swayed the judges' decision to give the US its second gold.
All the US fighters fought hard in this grueling tournament-style competition. All US fighters either won medals or lost close matches to an eventual medal winner. They're all to be commended. It takes alot to put it on the line against the best amateur fighters in the world. Some with two and three times the experience of the US team. The US coaches and fans were very pleased and proud of their team and the three medals out of eight competitors and look forward to next year were the Europeans will have to make the long trip to our side of the world, as the 2005 worlds will be in Canada. GO USA!!!
The world championships was capped off by a K-1 Super Heavyweight World Championship which featured eight professional matches. Semi-main event was for the WKA World Middleweight Muay Thai title and featured Switzerland Paulo Balicha against reigning titleholder Peter Polak from the Czech Republic. This bout went the distance and featured the best fighters of the evening. Much to the crowd's liking, the Swiss fighter Paulo took the decision and was crowned the new WKA World Champion. The main event, K-1 Heavyweight super fight, was also to determine the new WKA world heavyweight champion that was previously held by Andy Hug. This title has been left vacant after Andy's death six years ago. The bout featured Switzerland's Peter Majstorovic and South Africa's Mike Bernardo. It was clear from the start that Bernardo wanted to end the fight early with his heavy right cross and Majstorovic, the smaller opponent, hoping to evade the big right hand and wear Bernardo down with a variety of techniques including repeated spin kicks to the legs. The action was heavy, but came to an abrupt end in the middle of the bout with an alleged low blow by Majstorovic. Finally, after taunting by the crowd, Bernardo agreed to resume the action. Ahead on the scorecards, Bernardo attempted to evade and dance around the fifth and final round, but was dropped by Majstorovic. Bernardo beat the count and went on to take the decision and the title and end a great night and week of fights.