About 2,000 screaming fans packed the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo Saturday, Aug. 13, for the Toughman Hawaii “Next Generation” Junior Division Tournament of Champions.
According to promoter Walt Carvalho, Kamauli Willems was awarded a close decision over Naue Sanborn in the first fight of the night.
Mila Gambol and Naveah Hao proved to be the best fight of the night on the preliminary fight card, Carvalho said, with Gambol the winner after the two young battled four tough rounds.
Other winners in the prelims include: Damien Leah, Rydan Delacruz, Isaiah Grace, Ryan Joaquin, Avyous Lafaele and Anela Lee. Capone Sunberg and Richie Wolf both had to go four rounds in their bouts to get the decision.
And Elijah Joaquin proved to be too much for his Oahu opponent.
In one of the featured bouts of the night, Tyton “Tunda” Teves of Kauai stopped Maximo “El Galito” Kyle of Las Vegas for the victory and an outstanding performance trophy.
Keeyan Flores, Kila Hinau and Chason Castro also came away with wins.
In the semi-main event of the night, Rayson Castro and Uriah Eleban went toe-to-toe for four straight rounds to determine who would gain the win and move to the winner’s bracket. In the end, Eleban proved to have the bigger gas tank and had his hand raised,
Both fighters went home with a Best Fight of the Night Trophy from the main card.
And in the main event of the evening, Carmello Castillio stopped his opponent in the 2nd round with a body shot.
According to Carvalho, the next event will be a pro-am card Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium.
He said the card would feature some of Hawaii’s elite fighters, such as Nainoa “the Baby-Faced Assassin” Dung, as well as several Oahu fighters.
For more info, go to the Toughman Hawaii Association and Toughman Hawaii Kickboxing Facebook pages.