Articles of 2006

Chartchai Chionoi: Family Man and Fighter, Part 2

Published

18 years ago

August 23, 2006

(Read Part 1 of Scott Mallon's feature on Chartchai Chionoi)

The morning after I arrived I was told the water pump was out and I’d have to use the creek to bathe in. The family seemed to think it might create a bit of a hardship for me but I actually thought it would be pleasant bathing outdoors. Chionoi Creek is a hundred yards or so away from the home, hidden by a row of huge trees. The water is clear and cool and was perfect for bathing. Later in the day though, a new pump was installed and all was back to normal.

Chionoi’s wife, Oot, apologized for not having water but explained they had just returned from their daughter’s in Bangkok and hadn’t yet had time to replace the pump. She also apologized for the grassy area surrounding the house on three sides which was waist high and desperately in need of a trim.

The majority of the following interview was done in Thai and English at Chionoi’s home in Chiang Mai. Chionoi and his wife both speak decent English so we mixed our conversations with English and Thai. Chartchai and I sat on the sofa in the front room side-by-side for the majority of three days, only periodically taking breaks. The conversation below is but a fraction of the time we spent together.

Mallon / TSS: So – how’s everything going?

Chartchai Chionoi: Good but I’ve got a bad toothache and it really hurts.

Mallon / TSS: A toothache? Why don’t you go to the dentist?

Chartchai Chionoi: No….no dentist. I don’t like dentists.

Chionoi’s wife Oot steps in and tells me “He won’t go because he’s scared of dentists.”

At the same time, I’m offered some Thai chocolate wafers by Chartchai’s son, Boi. They are similar to Kit-Kat bars but lighter and come one wafer to a package, around fifty to a bag. The bag is full and I take a few. Chionoi smiles as he eagerly grabs a handful. He quickly opens one and begins eating it. They are like potato chips, once you start eating them it’s hard to stop and Chionoi doesn’t stop for quite awhile. Somehow he has managed to stay fit though, even with his obsession with chocolate wafers and after being out of the ring for more than 30 years.

Oot: He eats these all day. If I give him the whole bag, he’ll eat all of them so I hide them and give them to him a few at a time.

Chionoi is chomping away non-stop on the chocolate wafers. There are three or four of the bars lying in front of him on the coffee table and his pockets are stuffed full with them.

When Oot walks away he puts his finger to his mouth and looks over at me.

Chartchai: Ssshhhhhhhh….don’t tell her.

Mallon / TSS: I won’t tell her but did you ever think that eating all of these might be the reason you’ve got such a toothache?

He just shakes his head as if he can’t believe he has such a toothache.

Note – This interaction with Chartchai was on the first day after I arrived in Chiang Mai. My initial thoughts of him were that he reminded me of a kindly grandfather, not of a champion fighter. When he spoke of boxing though I could sense he still had the competitive fire burning in him.

I told him he should just break down and see a dentist but had no success in convincing him. A visit to the dentist might have made a world of difference in how he felt but he wasn’t going no matter how much he hurt.

Whenever I travel, I always bring a small pharmacy – just in case. In my first aid kit I carry an assortment of pills for anything from bruises to diarrhea to pain. I asked Chionoi if he wanted a couple of pills for pain and he quickly replied, “Yes. Why, do you have some?!” I handed him two codeine tablets, 60 mgs each, figuring this would be enough to give him some much-needed relief.

Soon thereafter he fell asleep on the sofa in the front room. Shortly after awakening I asked if he felt better and to my surprise I was told “No, I feel the same. The pills didn’t help. I still hurt!”

Two 60 mg tablets of codeine should have been enough to not only take away the pain of his throbbing toothache but also to make him feel a whole lot better. He was clearly in excruciating pain though and they didn’t make a dent.

Mallon / TSS: Besides your toothache, how are you doing?

Chartchai Chionoi: I’m ok – I’m happy. Are you happy? I’m glad you’re here.

Mallon / TSS: I’m glad to be here. You’ve got a beautiful place here, you must really like it.

Chartchai Chionoi: My house is not so big, not so nice, but it’s quiet and I feel better when I’m here. In the morning I sit outside and listen to the birds, it’s nice.

Mallon / TSS: So you live here all the time or do you have somewhere else you stay?

Chartchai Chionoi: We go to my daughter’s Bee’s house in Bangkok once a month and stay for a few weeks. After one of the McGowan fights, I was invited to see the King. He asked me, “If you could have anything, anything at all, what would you want.” So I asked him to give my baby daughter her name and he named her “Bee.”

Mallon / TSS: So I know you get headaches all the time. What’s going on? Do you know?

Chartchai Chionoi: I get headaches all the time.

Mallon / TSS: Maybe because of your toothache?

Chartchai Chionoi: No…I’ve had headaches for a long time, the toothache is only the last two or three months. Sometimes I get dizzy and feel like my head is spinning. When that happens I need quiet and rest.

During my stay, Chionoi would take frequent naps during the day or retire to his bedroom whenever he needed to.

Mallon / TSS: How long have you lived here?

Chartchai Chionoi: Around 3 years. We’ve had the land for about fourteen though.

Mallon / TSS: Your house is full of boxing mementos. What got you into the sport?

Chartchai Chionoi: When I was a little boy I used to watch Chamroen Songkitrat and wanted to be just like him. So I started boxing in school and since I was good at it, I continued.

On May the 2nd, 1954 in the National Stadium of Bangkok, Songkitrat challenged Australian Jimmy Carruthers unsuccessfully for the bantamweight title. The fight took place in the pouring rain and Songkitrat fought barefoot. The bout was viewed by Ring Magazine’s Nat Fleischer and because of the rain was changed from fifteen rounds to twelve.

Chionoi started boxing professionally when he was only 14 years of age and fought for eighteen years.

Mallon / TSS: Did you fight in Muay Thai before boxing?

Chartchai Chionoi: No, never. After I started boxing in grade school I stuck with it.

Mallon / TSS: That’s unusual. Most Thai fighters start out in Muay Thai.

Chartchai Chionoi: When I started fighting I was so young and after I met my wife and we got married, I had to grow up fast. When you have a family to support you do what you need to do. All I knew how to do was fight. My wife…she is the only woman I have ever been with. Promoters would send girls to my room, girls would come to the gym to watch me train – but my wife was the only one for me.

Mallon / TSS: That’s unusual too. Is there any one fight that stands out for you?

Chartchai Chionoi: The fights with Efren Torres, all of them. Miranda, he was tough because he never wanted to fight, he only wanted to dance. I hated fighting him. Walter McGowan – he had such a big heart. He was very polite also.

Oot: And he always dressed so nicely!

Speaking of dressing sharply, during the ‘60s teenagers wanting to copy Chionoi’s hair style would go into their local barbershop and ask for “The Chionoi.”

Mallon / TSS: Was there any one punch you remember? Any one fighter who hit you so hard you still remember his punches?

Chartchai Chionoi: They all hurt and I still remember them all. Sometimes I have dreams and I hear my manager telling me, “left – right – left, go forward, don’t go backwards, move your head!”

Mallon / TSS: What made you stop boxing and what did you do after you stopped boxing?

Chartchai Chionoi: It was just time. I had been boxing for more than half my life and just knew it was time. I had nothing left to prove. After I retired I’ve just relaxed and raised my children.

Mallon / TSS: So what are you doing nowadays?

Chartchai Chionoi: I don’t do much other than relax! I like the quiet here in Chiang Mai. Sometimes we go in to the town and go shopping; sometimes we go to the waterfall on our land to relax.

About fifteen minutes from Chionoi’s house, on the edge of a national park, he has a piece of land with several waterfalls.

Mallon / TSS: This place isn’t relaxing enough?!

Chartchai Chionoi: It is but we get bored so need other places to go.

Mallon / TSS: Tell me about your fight with Ohba. You were knocked out in the twelfth, what happened?

Chartchai Chionoi: It was a mess from the start. I knocked him down in the first or second round and the referee was shaking him as he counted! Not only that, he counted very slowly. Later in the fight, he caught me and knocked me out.

Chionoi’s son Boi enters the conversation, “Chartchai wasn’t right for the fight because someone put something in his drink. We think it was LSD because of the way he was acting. He definitely wasn’t right when the fight started.”

Mallon / TSS: So he was high on LSD while fighting?

Boi: Yes, we think so.

Mallon / TSS: Chartchai, your English is actually pretty good. Where did you learn to speak it?

Chartchai Chionoi: I learned a little here, a little there. I’ve been all over the world; to the U.S., Mexico, England, Panama, Japan and Switzerland so the traveling helped.

Oot: And Nicaragua…

Mallon / TSS: Which of the places did you like best?

Chartchai Chionoi: Switzerland…and Japan.

Mallon / TSS: Do you watch much boxing nowadays?

Chartchai Chionoi: No, not anymore. I did just after I retired but not anymore. I don’t know any of the fighters these days.

Chionoi secretly confided in me that he didn’t think a lot of the fighters who are champions these days would have been champions back in his day or before.

“Too many champions now, “he whispered.

Mallon / TSS: How do you compare boxing today with boxing from your era?

Chartchai Chionoi: Boxing used to be about the sport. Now it seems like it’s all about the money. Money is important of course but boxing is a sport.

Mallon / TSS: Who do you rate as the greatest boxer from Thailand? Was it you? Maybe Khaosai Galaxy? Pone Kingpetch?

Chartchai Chionoi: Pone Kingpetch. When Pone and I fought, we didn’t get the same exposure as when Khaosai fought. Most Thais didn’t have TVs in the ‘60s and ‘70s!

Later I spoke with a taxi driver who told me when he was a little boy he would listen to Kingpetch’s and Chionoi’s fights on the radio. His family didn’t have the money for a TV.

Mallon / TSS: Is he your favorite Thai fighter?

Chartchai Chionoi: Yes.

Mallon / TSS: What about fighters from outside Thailand?

Chartchai Chionoi: Rocky Marciano…and what’s his name? Roberto Duran! I like Duran a lot. He can really fight and was an animal in the ring. I like Marciano’s overhand right though. I used to throw an overhand right and I got it from watching him fight.

Mallon / TSS: Nowadays, even fighters in the lower weight divisions are making $10,000-$20,000 and upwards of $100,000. What was the most you made for any fight in your career?

Chartchai Chionoi: When I fought Fritz Chervet in Switzerland I made around $75,000. I used to walk around with a thick roll of money in my pocket, always handing some out to my wife or my children; now I don’t. I was able to buy some land and put my children through school with what I made and I did well enough during my career to take care of my family and that’s what was most important.

Thai Tidbits

On August 11th, Petchyindee Boxing Promotions of Thailand won the purse bid for the WBC Flyweight title fight between Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Monelisi Myekeni of South Africa. Petchyindee put forth a bid for $176,999 while Branco Sports Productions (BSP) bid $151,000. The WBC has yet to issue a press release confirming the bout as the contract for the match-up has yet to be delivered. The deadline for the WBC to approve the fight is August 25th.

Wonjongkam has until November 11th to defend his title.

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Scott Mallon

Articles of 2006

Peter/Toney Ii: Peter Has The Brutal Punch

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2006

Adam Berlin

Samuel Peter claims he has dynamites in my two hands?

Heavyweight contenders Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and James Lights Out? Toney get it on a second time this Saturday from the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. (Showtime).

The hard-slugging Peter, unlike Toney, is one of those strong, silent types notorious for letting their fists to the talking one the opening bell sounds, but the Nigeria Nightmare is as confident as ever and determined to turn Lights Out’s lights out for good.

I have got dynamites in my two hands,? said Peter, according the Lagos, Nigeria Vanguard, and I will crush James Toney once and for all. The Toney camp made the mistake of their lives by protesting and seeking a rematch. I am ready to teach him a bitter lesson.?

Sam Peter walked away with the W for Peter/Toney I at the Staples Center in LA last September, but it was by disputed split decision a verdict so disputed, there was even a dispute about the dispute which forced the WBC’s hand into mandating Saturday’s rematch.

Samuel Peter is the biggest thing to hit African boxing since Ghanaian superstar Azumah Nelson rocked the feather and junior welterweight divisions. The President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Prince Olaide Adeboye, admitted, according to allAfrica.com, We are rooting for Samuel Peter, of course. He is one boy we believe in to bring back the country’s lost glory in professional boxing. I am personally making arrangement to be at the ringside to see him fight Toney again. I was at the first fight in Los Angeles in September.

Peter has the brutal punch, and to me he was the clear winner of the first fight. But the WBC Board of Governors, of which I am a member, voted 21-10 for a rematch. There was nothing those of us Africans on the board could do in the circumstances. But I believe Peter will confirm he is better than Toney and will then go ahead to meet the champion and claim the belt for Nigeria and Africa.?

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Articles of 2006

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings for Asia

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2006

Scott Mallon

There are claims that boxing is dying. Hogwash. The heavyweight division isn’t the only division in boxing and 2007 promises to be a banner year in boxing; especially for boxers hailing from Asia.

While Asia isn’t Vegas or Atlantic City, it is a region packed of diamonds in the rough; undiscovered gems and potential superstars who wait for their moment in the sun.

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Asia

1) Manny Pacquiao – There’s no way to dispute Pacquiao is the best fighter in Asia, if not all of boxing. He’s exciting, he wins with Je Ne Sais Quois and is definitely “the man” in boxing.

2) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Although his competition leaves much to be desired, his longevity and skills are undeniable. He is currently Thailand’s only world champion and is undefeated in ten years. Need I say more?

3) Chris John – A victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, however controversial, shows he belongs at the top of the heap. He easily outpointed Renan Acosta to close out 2006 and should have no trouble defending against Jose Rojas in February. A fight with Pacquiao would not be a good move on his part but a rematch with Marquez would not hurt – especially if he defeats the Mexican again.

4) Hozumi Hasegawa – Hidden away in Japan, Hasegawa is a sharp punching southpaw who put former champion Veeraphol Sahaprom to sleep. He recently bested Genaro Garcia and his herky-jerky style will give fits to any one who steps in the ring with him.

5) Masomori Tokuyama – Tokuyama has never shied away from a good fight and although he only fought once in 2006 (UD12 Jose Navarro), he ledger shows wins over Katsushige Kawashima (twice), Gerry Penalosa (twice) and In Jin Chi (twice). A fight with Hozumi Hasegawa is a distinct possibility in 2007.

6) Nobuo Nashiro – With only seven fights under his belt he took on WBA champion Martin Castillo – and defeated him. Although he’s only fought a total of nine fights, nearly all have been against quality opposition. A victory in a rematch with Castillo would cement his claim as the king of the 115-pound division.

7) Yukata Niida – This light-hitting minimumweight defended his title twice in 2006, winning a technical decision against unbeaten Eriberto Gejon (Tech Win 10) and the other on points over Ronald Barrera (W 12). Scheduled to meet Katsunari Takayama early next year – the best has yet to come for this WBA belt holder.

8) In Jin Chi – Won back the title he lost to Takashi Koshimoto in January from Rudolfo Lopez. While there’s little uncertainty to his skills, at thirty-three, 2007 may provide some insight as to just how much he has left.

9) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai –Sor Nonthachai is an exciting, top-shelf fighter with an iron chin. Has no trouble making mincemeat of mid-level opposition and deserves a title shot in 2007. Time is running out.

10) Rey Bautista – He’s young, relatively inexperienced in big-time boxing, but will continue to shine in 2007. One of the better prospects in boxing, he should snag a title in 2007.

Asian Fighters Ranked in Ring Magazine

Pound for Pound:

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines): #2

Jr. Lightweight

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines): #1
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai: #9

Featherweight

Chris John (Indonesia) #1
In Jin Chi (Korea) #3
Takashi Koshimoto (Japan) #5
Hioyuki Enoki (Japan) #7

Jr. Featherweight

Somsak Sithchatchawal (Thailand) #4

Bantamweight

Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan) #2
Veeraphol Sahaprom (Japan) #3
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (Thailand) #6
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Thailand) #10

Jr. Bantamweight

Nobuo Nashiro (Japan) #1
Katsushige Kawashima (Japan) #7
Pramuansak Phosuwan (Thailand) #10

Flyweight

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand) #1
Takefumi Sakata (Japan) #7
Daisuke Naito (Japan) #10

Jr. Flyweight

Koki Kameda (Japan) #1

Minimumweight

Yukata Naiida (Japan) #2
Eagle Kyowa (Japan/Thai) #4
Katsunari Takayama (Japan) #5
Rodel Mayol (Philippines) #7

Boxing in Thailand

There’s no shortage of boxers in Thailand. With a huge pool of Muay Thai fighters to draw from and several talented amateur boxing prospects turning pro after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Thailand seems destined to remain a boxing powerhouse in Asia.

The country is known for having tough, determined and disciplined fighters who give their all whenever the step in to the ring. However, consistently losing while fighting abroad and padding their records with no-hopers has done nothing to enhance their reputation.

Whether because of a lack of marketability, a lack of funds or their unwillingness to travel abroad, the vast majority of boxers from Thailand remain a mystery to fans in the west. If anything though, the boxing scene involving Thai fighters will be active. In fact, it’s one of the most active in the world; since 2000, the number of fights has nearly doubled in the country.

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Thailand – August 2006

1) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
2) Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym
3) Somsak Sithchatchawal
4) Wandee Singwancha
5) Sirimongkol Singwancha
6) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai
7) Veeraphol Sahaprom
8) Pramuansak Phosuwan
9) Terdsak Jandaeng
10) Oleydong Sithamerchai

Current Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Thailand

1) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Flyweight) – Definitely the top dog in Thailand

2) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai (Super Lightweight) – He’s a seasoned fighter who has proven himself in the big-time. He’s one Thai who can fight outside of Asia. He has an abundance of skills and one-punch power. His overall ability and ease in dispatching anyone other than championship caliber get him the runners-up spot.

3) Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Super Bantamweight) – After losing to Vladimir Sidorenko he’s bounced back. He’s young, he can punch, but the former interim champion needs to prove himself against a name fighter.

4) Somsak Sithchatchawal (Super Bantamweight) – Was his win over Monshipour a fluke or was Celestino Caballero just that good? Did Sithchatchawal catch Monshipour at the right time and can he rebound from the devastating loss? The jury is still out.

5) Wandee Singwancha (Flyweight) – He doesn’t have much of a punch which will be his downfall in the end. He can box, as was evidenced in his recent victory over Juanito Rubillar, but this won’t be enough. He can no longer make the Jr. Flyweight limit and with no punch he’ll have a hard time competing against the “big boys.” Although he’s now rated second by the WBC, he doesn’t deserve to be.

5) Sirimongkol Singwancha (Super Lightweight) – Get this guy a fight. He’s better than Jose Armando Santa Cruz and would have beat up Inada had the fight taken place. He’ll fight anyone but his biggest obstacle is staying motivated fighting tomato cans in Thailand. Like many Thais, he needs a fight against a name opponent.
6) Wandee Singwancha (Flyweight) – He doesn’t have much of a punch which will be his downfall in the end. He can box, as was evidenced in his recent victory over Juanito Rubillar, but this won’t be enough. He can no longer make the Jr. Flyweight limit and with no punch he’ll have a hard time competing against the “big boys.” Although he’s now rated second by the WBC, he doesn’t deserve to be.

7) Pramuansak Phosuwan (Super Flyweight) – A genuine tough guy. Always calm and focused no matter how heated the battle. But at thirty-eight, he’ll be in trouble should he fight one of the division’s elite.
8) Veeraphol Sahaprom (Bantamweight) – Will be lucky to get another crack at the title. Although he has a puncher’s chance of winning a belt, that’s about all he has left at this point. A third shot at Hasegawa is unlikely.

9) Oleydong Sithamerchai (Minimumweight) – He’s fought better than the usual opponents faced by Thais at his level and he moves up one spot with the departure of Terdsak Jandaeng. He lacks the punch and is in the wrong division to become a superstar. He’ll need to defeat a name opponent to convince me.

10) Saenghiran Lookbanyai / Napapol Kittisakchokchai (Super Bantamweight) – These two square-off in early March, supposedly to see who deserves a shot at Israel Vasquez. Kittisakchokchai has the edge in experience but some feel Lookbanyai has the edge in heart and is the favorite.

Neither has defeated a top twenty fighter and yet are ranked number one and two respectively in the WBC’s world.

In Kittisakchokchoi’s lone shot at the big-time, he was TKO’d in 10 by Oscar Larios. His dreadful performance against Larios and lack of quality opposition leads me to believe Saenghiran might have more of a shot at beating him than some suspect. Regardless, neither of them lasts longer than six rounds with Israel Vasquez.

Honorable Mention: Wethya Sakmuangklang, Denkaosan Kaovichit, Devid Lookmahanak, Nethra Sasiprapa, Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym

Thai Fighters Ranked in Ring Magazine

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam: #1 Flyweight
Pramuansak Phosuwan: #10 Jr. Bantamweight
Veeraphol Sahaprom: #3 Bantamweight
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin: #6 Bantamweight
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym: #10 Bantamweight
Somsak Sithchatchawal: #3 Jr. Featherweight
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai: #9 Lightweight

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Articles of 2006

Iceman Stops Tito Ortiz Win Streak

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2006

David A. Avila

LAS VEGAS—UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “Iceman” Liddell’s fists proved too much for Huntington Beach’s Tito Ortiz who was stopped in the third round before a sold out crowd at the MGM Garden Arena on Saturday.

The punching machine Liddell (20-3, 13 KOs) repeated his victory in UFC 66 over the much-improved grappler Ortiz who has improved his punching and blocking. Ortiz was trying to avenge his loss of April 2004.

Despite all the new weapons displayed by Ortiz it wasn’t enough as Liddell pummeled the former champion and retained his title with a technical knockout at 3:59 of the third round. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bout.

“This was the most satisfying victory of my career,” said Liddell, 36, of Santa Barbara. “Tito came back real tough.”

Ortiz (15-5, 8 KOs), a former wrestler, worked on his boxing technique knowing he would need it against the former boxer Liddell. But Liddell’s experience allowed him to find the right moment to pounce on Ortiz.

“I had him hurt, I just kept throwing punches,” said Liddell who also knocked down Ortiz in the first round with a left hook.

Ortiz was gracious in defeat.

“Chuck is the best fighter Pound for Pound in the (mixed martial arts) world,” said Ortiz, 31, who suffered a gash on the side of his left eye from a punch. “I’m disgusted by myself. I let my fans down.”

Other bouts

Underdog Keith Jardine (12-3-1) knocked out Forrest Griffin (13-4) at 4:41 of the first round in their light heavyweight showdown. A right uppercut followed by a left hook wobbled Griffin who was sent to the floor by a barrage of punches. On the ground Jardine landed right after right until referee John McCarthy stopped the fight for a technical knockout.

“I couldn’t believe he was hurt,” said Jardine about Griffin who is known for his resiliency. “I was so nervous coming into this fight, but now I know I belong here.”

Canada’s Jason McDonald (18-7) choked out Chris Leben (15-3) in a middleweight bout that was up for grabs. Though Leben seemed to control the fight with stunning left hands, once the fight went to the ground McDonald managed a chokehold at 4:03 of the second round. Referee Steve Mazagatti saw Leben was unconscious and stopped the fight.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (12-5) caught Brazil’s Mario Cruz (2-2) with a sneak right hand while both were tangled on the ground. Then the Belarusian pummeled Cruz until referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 3:15 of the first round.

Third season winner of the Ultimate Fighter television reality season Michael Bisping (12-0) of Great Britain won by technical knockout over Eric Shafer (9-2-2) at 4:29 of the first round. A knee knocked Shafer groggy then Bisping knocked him to the ground and pounded him. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bludgeoning.

Thiago Alves (16-4) caught Peru’s Tony De Souza (15-5) with a knee as he attempted to dive for his legs in a welterweight contest. After that it was pretty much over as Alves pummeled De Souza at 1:10 of the second round forcing referee John McCarthy to halt the bout.

Gabriel Gonzago (7-1) proved too strong for Carmelo Marrero (6-1) in a heavyweight bout. At 3:22 of the first round Gonzago of Massachusetts manipulated his way into arm bar forcing Pennsylvania’s Marrero to tap out.

Japan’s Yushin Okami (19-3) pounded Georgia’s Rory Singer (11-6) into submission at 4:03 of the third round of a middleweight bout. Okami seemed the more-rounded fighter with effective kicks to the head and more accurate punching.

Christian Wellisch (8-2) jumped to a quick start with an accurate left hook that rattled Australia’s Anthony Perosh (5-3) in a heavyweight bout. During the first round it seemed the Sacramento fighter might end the fight but the Aussie hung tough. Wellisch won by unanimous decision.

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