- Strike 4 - Muay Thai Eliminations for the State and National Championships held in Brooklyn, NY. Promoted by Strike Productions.

New York Based Muay Thai Boxing events held as consecutive series for the State and National Championships.

BROOKLYN, NY (PRWEB) May 11, 2004 --The latest round of sanctioned Muay Thai Boxing elimination fights held recently in Brooklyn erupted into heated rivalries as fighters vie for coveted rankings for upcoming Regional and National championships.

Recording its fourth consecutive sell-out this year, Strike Zone, the U.S. National Muay Thai ("Thai Boxing") and Boxing Sports Club, hosted the latest round of elimination bouts on Saturday, April 17, 2004, producing combatants that will represent the NY/NJ region in Regional, and National competitions later this year.

"STRIKE 4 USMTA Amateur Muay Thai State Eliminations & Championships-Interstate Series-New York & New Jersey" was promoted by Strike Productions.

Strike has emerged as the leading Muay Thai promotional company in the region, as the one of few promoters in the Tri-State New York area (a region including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) permitted to hold bouts sanctioned by the U.S. Muay Thai Association (USMTA), the countrys largest and most respected Muay Thai governing body. When matched against fighters from New Jersey gyms, boxers from New York area gyms asserted their dominance by winning all bouts and only had one draw.

The evening included 10 exciting bouts, culminating in a much anticipated Super Middleweight contest in which the flamboyant Michael "The Phoenix" Tomas (167 Lb. / 24 yrs.) representing Maisonets Muay Thai Camp of Brooklyn was awarded a decision over the previously unbeaten James Meals (167 Lb. / 21 yrs.) from IM Sports Jak Jai Muay Thai of New Jersey to improve his record to nine wins and with only one loss. James Meals unbeatable record has now dropped to 4 wins and 1 loss. This bout was the featured bout of the evening and brought a lot of excitement to the show and to the fans that came out to support their champions. This fight featured a lot of skill and endurance on both of the fighters and the performance was on top notch.
In the Middleweight division, Borodin's Gym's of Brooklyn Dima Shirganov (160 Lb. / 17 yrs.) improved his unbeaten record to six wins by also winning a decision, over Nadim Higazi (160 Lb. / 25 yrs.) fighting out of Sitan Gym of Queens with a lot of hard heating hand combinations.

Mr. Aziz (Higazis trainer), who saw his fighters record slide to two wins and three losses in a sanctioned fighting, apparently dissatisfied with the decision hurled profanities at the judges. USMTA have stated that a letter is being sent to Mr. Aziz stating this kind of behavior is not tolerated and is not professional of him, and the next time he will be suspended for 3 months from fighting. A rematch is being considered by both fighters.

With a large, chanting crowd at his back for his Light Heavyweight match-up Gus "The Greek Freak" Indjeyiannis (175 Lb. / 26 yrs.), from Sitan Gym, knocked out first-time fighter Amerson Gil Creak (168 Lb. / 24 yrs.), from Ultimate Gym. Indjeyiannis extends his unbeaten record to three wins.

In a Super Middleweight bout, Borodins Ken Ito (165 Lb. / 27 yrs.) had his corner stop the punishment being inflicted by Adam Silversteine (160 Lb. / 28 yrs. Old) fighting out of Ultimate Gym. The match marked the first time both fighters participate in sanctioned competition. Adam Silversteine moves his record up to 1 win and 0 losses.

Meanwhile, in a Middleweight affair, Allan Aujero (145 Lb. / 37 yrs.), from IM Sports Jak Jai Muay Thai, lost this bout to a much younger Mattys Limberger (150 Lb. / 22 yrs.). Limberger, representing Maisonets Muay Thai Camp, improved his record to three wins and one loss.

And, in the evenings other Middleweight division competition, Billy Zhao (155 Lb. / 26 yrs. Old), fighting out of IM Sports Jak Jai Muay Thai of New Jersey, lost to also a newcomer and flamboyant Louis Ramos (155 Lb. / 24 yrs.), from Ultimate Gym.
   
In addition to the elimination bouts, the evening included a number of fan-favorites and exhibition competitions among relatively younger combatants.
   
In the Junior Needle weight division, Mathew Fishteyn (62 Lb. / 8 yrs. Old) from Borodins Gym   fought valiantly and aggressively, and that skill overcame the budding skills of Maisonets own Louis Ortis (60 Lb. / 7 yrs. Old) that just had his second fight and evened out his record to 1 win and 1 loss, while Mathew Fishteyn improves his record to 6 and 0.
   
In a Welterweight contest, Tiger Internationals Ilya Epelman (148 Lb.
/ 13 yrs.) out classed his opponent Michael Fidelman (140 Lb. / 14 yrs.) from Borodins Gym with heavy punches and attacks and at the end Fidelmans corner has stopped the bout on the second round to stop the punishment that he was getting in the ring.
   
In a Featherweight boxing exhibition, both Jose Nouvez (128 Lb. / 18 yrs.) from Kid Kely Gym and Malik Lewter (125 Lbs / 15 yrs.) from Maisonets demonstrated considerable pugilistic prowess in speed and technique.
   
And, in what was one of the more exciting bouts of the evening, judging by the reaction of the fans in attendance, female Junior Welterweight fighters Marisol Martinez (140 Lb. / 15 yrs.) from IM Sports Jak Jai Muay Thai, and Nicole Mckoy (135 Lb. / 15 yrs.) from Maisonets Muay Thai Camp of Brooklyn fought a beautiful and exciting bout it was a very close fight that kept the crowd on their feet and screaming all throughout the fight. The fights got a some what lengthy decision contemplating by the judges due to the closeness of the fight and the judges decision was to give both fighters a draw.
   
This year marks the first year ever that USMTA-sanctioned elimination events have been held in the New York Tri-state area.

To date, Strike Zone has hosted "Elimination Match" events each month in 2004, designed to produce qualified fighters for New York State competitions to be held later this year.

From there, regional events will be organized, with Strike Zone already negotiating USMTA-sanctioned matches between New York fighters and those from Texas, Michigan, and Colorado.

Next up will be the continuation of the eliminations for the New York State Amateur Championships. The next event will be on May 15, 2004 at Strike Zone Muay Thai Boxing Sports Club - 1122 Coney Island Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11230.

ABOUT STRIKE
Strike Inc. is a New York-based promotional company that is dedicated on promoting Muay Thai in New York. Launched in 1998, Strike has successfully promoted dozens of event since the organizations inception. Strike boasts a deep stable of talented Muay Thai professionals, exceptional trainers, and state-of-the art facility -- Strike Zone. Strike continues to successfully negotiate partnerships with several Muay Thai organizations and federations on the West Coast and overseas in preparation for future promotional events, exhibitions, and sanctioned matches. Strike is an officially recognized National Muay Thai promotional company, sanctioned by the U.S. Muay Thai Association (USMTA), the largest and most respected Muay Thai governing body in the U.S.

By Craig McGuire