Duke Roufus Gym 9/29/01 Heavyweight Gladiators Article

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: For those who didn't make it to the K-1 in Las Vegas this last year, you had another chance to see top North American Heavyweight action in Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA... Yes, Milwaukee... Home of great cheese, Miller Beer, the Brewers and the Bucks.

But it appears they will all need to take a backseat to the new game in town, the "HEAVYWEIGHT GLADIATORS" Professional Kickboxing Series! A high energy event with lights, lasers and smoke that was all just the icing on a cake that was made up of great heavyweight fighters from Mexico, USA and Canada.

It was a K-1 style event with a far less budget to work with but with just as much if not more exciting fights than K-1 offered this year, and once again... In Milwaukee... Not the bright lights and high ticket prices of the super city of Las Vegas...

The road to the top seems to lead through the mighty Midwest for a lot of things in sports and on this night, kickboxing was no different. Not only was tonight's Heavyweight Gladiators a sell out, but the event also raised nearly $1,300,00 for the New York Victim's Families Fire & Police Assistance Fund. There were no losers on this event tonight.

The crowd was treated to 7 fantastic K-1 style (Modified Muaythai, no elbows) bouts of which 2 were amateur and 5 were pro bouts. Promoter Scott Joffe took over the promotional responsibilities while his business partner, Duke Roufus was allowed to focus on another challenge... Getting past Mexican National Super Heavyweight Muaythai Rules Champion Pedro "The Pitbull" Fernandez.

In charge on this night was Joffe's Ad Cetera Sports, who presented tonight's "Heavyweight Gladiators" at the famous Rave Eagles Grand Ballroom in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin with of course, Milwaukee's favorite Main Event "Duke."

It wasn't to be an easy task for the 4-time World Champion and K-1 veteran Duke Roufus. Fernandez seems to do very well in single bout events having won 16 of them with 15 wins by KO/TKO's. Of his only 3 loses, 2 of them came in the K-1 Tournament style competition against Maurice Smith and Duke's brother Rick Roufus. If your going to have 2 losses on your record, those are surly 2 names you can have pride in facing yet losing to. But tonight he faced another great name in the sport and Duke had no desire to lose in front of his hometown crowd.

Things started out differently. Midway into the first round, Fernandez threw a spinning backhand and got turned around with his back to Roufus. Roufus jumped on the attack striking with 2 strong knees to the rear of Fernandez' right leg, the 3rd knee dropped Fernandez to the ring in pain. One of the knees had obviously hit a nerve as referee Al Wichgers started a count. High into the count Fernandez stood up and the bout continued. As round 1 ended it was an easy 10-8 for Roufus.

In round 2, Roufus came out strong again but this time, so did Fernandez. Each time Roufus landed some strong scoring blows, Fernandez powered back with some of his own. As the round wore of, Roufus was the clear aggressor and at the end of round 2, all 3 judges gave it to Roufus again, 10-9.

In round 3, Roufus once again started strong but this time, Fernandez wasn't answering back as quickly if at all as he was in round 2. Roufus landed several really strong leg kicks to Fernandez' left leg with hands to back it up. At the end of 3, all 3 judges had Roufus in the round, 10-9.

What many thought was a late round war in the making though was not to be as Fernandez informed the referee at the end of the 3-4 break that he was unable to continue. The first shots to the back of his leg in the opening round and the strong leg kicks by Roufus in the 3rd had done him in. Roufus won by TKO at the break of rounds 3 and 4, upping his record to 35 wins with 7 loses, 1 draw and 26 wins by KO or TKO. On the other side of the ring, Fernandez suffers only his 4th loss vs 16 wins.

What's next for Fernandez only time will tell. As for Roufus, another shot at the K-1 trophy is always on his mind and tonight he proved he's still the American to beat in the race for the North American K-1 title.

In the nights Semi Main event, IKF Pro East Coast Heavyweight Champion "Lightning" Lane Collyer (right) was just happy to get a fight. In his last 4 bookings, Collyer's opponent had backed out every time. However on this night, his opponent has no history of pulling out of fights, but he does have a history of wining. Collyer, of Atlanta, Georgia with a 17-2 record and 10 KO/TKO's faced off against Pittsburgh Pennsylvania's Mark Miller.

At the opening bell, Miller raced out and threw a picture perfect ax kick that barely missed Collyer. But Miller wasn't finished as he followed with a strong knee to Collyer's body which was quickly followed with the two going into a clinch. After a few moments, Referee Wichgers broke the two up and from that moment on, things changed.

Collyer seemed to relax a bit and went on the attack landing several strong shots himself. Knees to the body, some even to Miller's head which he seemed to block. Collyer added some strong leg kicks which were followed up by some good hand combinations that included strong body shots and a spinning backhand. As Miller answered back himself, Collyer seemed to answer with 2 more. Finally at 2: 35 of the first scheduled 3 minute round, referee Al Wichgers stopped the bout. Collyer had won by TKO.

The first semi main event could have easily been billed as a Main Event on any card. Raul Romero Gonzalez of Mexico City Mexico and Jason "Gladiator" Johnson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin look like 2 chiseled male models ready for either a bodybuilding contest or a shot in GQ magazine.

These two simply spell out the look of a Gladiator. Gonzalez at 229 lbs. and Johnson at 218 lbs. probably had a combined body fat of 3%... if that. As the two met in the ring, few women wanted to see these faces get scared, but the truth is, these two are indeed true Gladiators, which is what they came into the ring on this night to be... GLADIATORS!

Johnson had the support of America's elite fighting military, the US Marines. Johnson himself was a Marine and proudly wore the Semper Fi label on his American Red White and Blue shorts. It was as if Johnson carried America on his shoulders into this fight, and he had no desire to let America down. However, Gonzalez was also a proud countryman and he too carried the hearts of his country as well.

As the round started, both showed respect for the other, choosing their shots wisely and carefully. As the round got going Gonzalez started to score with knees to the body quite often. Johnson countered back with knees, as well, and when on the outside, the two evenly exchanged punches and leg kicks.

Then suddenly, like the dropping of an atomic bomb, Johnson lifted up his powerful right leg and landed it squarely on the side of Gonzalez' head dropping the big man to the canvas. The blow sent a thunderous ringing throughout Gonzalez' head and although he tried to shake it off he couldn't.

He tried to stand but he seemed to be off balance and as he sat back down to the canvas, referee Al Wichgers waived the end of the bout. Johnson had scored an American victory at 1:33 of round 1 but don't be fooled here, Gonzales will be back again. On the other side of the ring, Johnson will now prepare to fight one of the most famous heavyweights in Europe, Paris "GOLDEN GREEK" Vasilikos of Greece in December of this year. The winner of this bout will get a shot against IKF Super Heavyweight World Champion Matt Skelton of England.

In the other bouts of the night, former IKF Amateur Canadian Champion Giuseppe DeNatale added another pro win to his record with a 2nd round stop of Kent Hensley who was making his pro debut. A special thank you to Hensley who was a late fill-in of another fighter who pulled out just weeks before the event. DeNatale stopped Hensley with a strong body kick at 51 seconds into round 2 making a strong bid for his spot in the K-1 USA Tournament as well.

Making their pro debut's tonight were 2, 1999 IKF National Amateur Champions. 1999 IKF U.S. Amateur Cruiserweight Champion "Bad" Brad Fowler, of Duke Roufus Gym faced off against 1999 IKF U.S. Amateur Heavyweight Champion Bryan "The Alabama Slammer" Waid, of Alabama Kickboxing, Jasper, AL. Neither had been very busy in the ring since winning their National titles, but both had other things on their minds.

Fowler simply took some time off for a much needed break and Waid was faced with the untimely passing away of his trainer leaving him with no trainer in his hometown. It was an emotional comeback for Waid who came with no trainer to help him, but was willing to "Walk the Walk," as any true Champion would. For Fowler, it was a long awaited comeback for the Milwaukee superstar by his many fans.

This bout had everything one would expect in a Champion vs. Champion bout. In round 1, these two threw more than most fighters throw in a 5 round bout. From sweeps to high kicks, strong knees to stopping jabs, these two proved they knew how to fight. Waid had easily dominated and won the first half of the round while Fowler seemed to blossom late and take the second half. After 1, one judge had it 10-10 even and the other 2 judges had it a close 10-9 for Fowler.

However, a second round was not to be as Waid called a stop to the bout himself while still in the corner after round 1 stating his left leg was too badly injured. It was the pro debut for both and if these two have anything to offer in their pro careers like they did as amateurs, look out world, there's some new kids on the block ready to take the world by storm!

It was the only bout of the night that went to the judges cards and only 1 of 2 amateur bouts. As we say in the IKF Fight Game, it was an experience of 2 fighters willing to "Walk the Walk!" Altoona, Pennsylvania's Kirk Robinson came in at 252 lbs. and looking to improve on his record as a Muaythai fighter. His opponent, 201 lb. fighter Bryce Frank of Rockford, Illinois was looking to do the same.

Each had fought as full contact fighters and both had made the switch to Muaythai only recently. After 3 strong rounds by both fighters, the score seemed one sided, yet it was as close as could be with only 1 point separating the 2 fighters in each round.

In the end, all 3 judges scored it 30-27 in favor of Bryce Frank. As amateurs, both Robinson and Frank look forward to "Walking the Walk" at the 2002 IKF USA Nationals. A few more bouts in their newly learned style and we're sure to see some more experienced fighters come National Tournament time. Good luck on your way to the Big Show Gentlemen.

The amateur bout that started off the night was a light middleweight showdown between Alessio Zeal of Appleton, Wisconsin and Tony Randazzo of Milwaukee Wisconsin. This bout was all Randazzo, as he gave Zeal a standing 8 count in round 1 and 2 and while Zeal was taking his 3rd in round 3, he informed referee Al Wichgers that he was done at 1 minute of the round.

But wait a moment.... There was actually much more that started off the night. A special 3 round exhibition by Champion vs. Champion and training partners, 2001 IKF USA Amateur Light Welterweight Champion "Crush 'em" Casey Garza, of the Duke Roufus Gym, Burlington, Wisconsin and 2001 IKFUSA Amateur Welterweight Champion "Nasty" Neal Fox, of the Duke Roufus Gym, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both put on a great controlled exhibition to get the crowd warmed up. However before it all started, the USMC took center ring with all the fighters at their sides. A moment of silence followed by the singing of the National Anthem set the stage for the big night.

This was truly going to be a night of something special. The first of MANY to come. The first of the a new promotion for a new time. It's a New America, a New Game now and those who were all part of tonight kicked it off with a bang! They were all a part of something special, win or lose, everyone won tonight. If you missed it, you owe it to yourself to make sure you don't miss the next one..."Bring It ON! HEAVYWEIGHT GLADIATORS!!!"

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