and USKBA ACTION SPORTS NEWS

JANUARY 2003 ARCHIVE

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It has been confirmed, after a talk with the NYS Athletic Commission yesterday, that the USKBA cannot sanction, or co-sanction, professional (or Pro-Am) events in New York at the present time. The NYS Athletic Commission is only allowing the organizations on their "approved martial arts association list" to sanction events in New York as long as they conform to NYS Athletic Commission guidelines. This "list" was added to the law in 1997 but has not been utilized until now. Although co-sanctioning will be allowed, it must be done with the "approved" organization having representatives present at events and the approved rules of the "approved" organization must be strictly adhered to. In the opinion of the USKBA, this will present possible problems with weight divisions, title bouts and general rules and guidelines that might be in opposition to the USKBA.

The ruling passed down by the NYS Athletic Commission, deals primarily with Professional bouts. The USKBA will be submitting paperwork and proposals for the sanctioning of amateur events in New York. At this time, the plan to license promoters in lieu of the "approved martial arts association list" has not met with approval in Albany (NY Legislative). However, as told to the USKBA, the possibility of having other sanctioning organizations added to the "approved martial arts association list" is close at hand.

The USKBA has maintained a close relationship with NY promoters and fighters. We regret the inability to sanction events in NY at the present time. We also appreciate the promoters who have said they will wait to do events in NY until they can sanction with the USKBA. The USKBA has worked hard over the past six years to help promote our sports in NY. While we appreciate the loyalty expressed by some USKBA Promoters, we realize that waiting for something that might take some time to happen will be harmful to our fighters, promoters, fans and our sports. It is our hope that events in NY continue soon. We hope all our NY fighters, promoters and fans have the chance to continue to build our sports. We will be back in NY as soon as law allows.

In the meantime, talks continue with NJ Athletic Control Board Commissioner Larry Hazzard, regarding the running of additional USKBA Sanctioned events in New Jersey. Commissioner Hazzard has been very open to hearing new ideas and is very receptive to work with the USKBA in New Jersey. As soon as new developments are known, the USKBA will post this information on their website.

USKBA Promoter Jim Cofer (Golden Lotus Productions) has confirmed the date for his "USKBA OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 3". The date will be April 5, 2003 and will be held at The Attica Fairgrounds in Attica Ohio. The event will feature; USKBA Ohio State Champions defending their titles, fighters competing for vacant USKBA Ohio State Titles and an undercard of talented fighters working their way up to title contention. This series of events has gathered momentum over the past two years and is now highly regarded as one of the best kickboxing competitions in the area. Last year, USKBA Ohio State Super Light Heavyweight Champion ROY KILGORE went on to compete in the "2002 USKBA ACTION SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS" held in New Jersey. Any fighters interested in competing in the "USKBA OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 3", should call USKBA Promoter Jim Cofer at 419-935-8621.

USKBA Promoter Ace Ramirez (Unlimited Arts Promotions) has added another date for his "BATTLEGROUNDS" series of events. In addition to "BATTLEGROUNDS 3" scheduled for March 8, 2003, another event, "BATTLEGROUNDS 4", has been scheduled for April 12, 2003. USKBA Promoter Ace Ramirez said that the response from fighters to compete on his March 8th event was so overwhelming, he had to schedule "BATTLEGROUNDS 4" on April 12th to accommodate the fighters and fans. The "BATTLEGROUNDS" series of events is fast becoming a regular and popular event in New Jersey. Any fighters interested in competing in the "BATTLEGROUNDS" series, should call USKBA Promoter Ace Ramirez at 201-387-1811.

USKBA ACTION SPORTS will begin a series of events entitled "ULTIMATE ELIMINATION" that will consist of 8-fighter elimination bouts. Each event will feature 8 pro fighters in a pre-determined action sport and weight division fighting for the top cash prize and championship belt. The action sports will include; Full Contact Kickboxing, Leg Kicks Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts/Grappling. Pro fighters interested in competing in the "ULTIMATE ELIMINATION" events, should e-mail; actionsports@uskba.com or call 212-760-4766. The first "ULTIMATE ELIMINATION" event is scheduled for June 2003. More details to follow.

On Friday, January 17, 2003, at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City NJ, five USKBA Licensed Fighters appeared on a fight card that featured eight total fighters. The first bout featured USKBA Full Contact Lightweight International Champion EDELMIRO MONTERO going against GOCHA PASIESHVILI (USKBA). This five round Full Contact bout went the distance with Montero winning by split decision. The next bout featured USKBA Leg Kicks Middleweight United States Champion TAREK "The Lebanese Tiger" RACHED versus USKBA San Shou Light Heavyweight World Champion PETER "F-16" KALJEVIC in scheduled five round International Rules bout. This bout went the distance with Rached winning by unanimous decision. The next bout was in Mixed Martial Arts, scheduled for three 5 minute rounds, and featured UFC Champion DAN "The Beast" SEVERN battling PAT STANO. When time expired, this bout was declared a draw. Severn may become a USKBA Licensed Fighter if negotiations to have him fight on March 28, 2003 in Massachusetts are completed. In the Main Event, OLANDO "The Warrior" RIVERA and USKBA Full Contact Light Heavyweight International Champion KADIR (see photo below of KADIR graciously signing autographs) squared off in a scheduled 10 round bout. Going the distance, the judges gave this fight to Rivera by split decision.

The arena was filled with USKBA Champions and Licensed Fighters. The talk of the evening was challenges by fighters to USKBA Champions for their titles. In the center of the talk were challenges to one of the most active of USKBA fighters USKBA Full Contact Super Middleweight World Champion TOMMY "Bee" BOTTONE. Other challenges were made by, and to, USKBA Full Contact Light Heavyweight International Champion KADIR, USKBA Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion RANDALL "The Perfessor" POGUE,  USKBA Leg Kicks Middleweight United States Champion TAREK "The Lebanese Tiger" RACHED, USKBA San Shou Light Heavyweight World Champion PETER "F-16" KALJEVIC and USKBA Licensed Fighter MELVIN ROBINSON. Also in the arena was Kickboxing Legend DON "The Dragon" WILSON(pictured at right with USKBA Referee Fred Corritone) who fielded a challenge by Olando Rivera. Wilson has a travel schedule filled with appearances at martial art events all over the world. However, he was willing to accept the challenge by Rivera. Both fighters challenged all promoters to step up to the plate and put this match together. Additional talk in the crowd centered around USKBA Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World Champion LOUIS "Bad Boy" RUIZ by having him fight Olando Rivera and/or Don "The Dragon "Wilson. Full Contact Kickboxing is heating up!

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USKBA ACTION SPORTS FIGHTER LICENSE APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

USKBA ACTION SPORTS Fighter License Applications are now available online by clicking the sample application to the left, by clicking here, or by going to our Benefits of Membership section. Fighters requesting licensing with USKBA ACTION SPORTS should print the application, complete it and remit with your picture (preferably an fighting stance pose) along with the licensing fee of $30 per year (cash or check). Pictures may also be sent through e-mail to actionsports@uskba.com. Once we receive your application, we will post your information and picture in our USKBA Champions and Weight Divisions section under the Weight Division you selected on the application and as a NEW licensed fighter in our Event Results and USKBA ACTION SPORTS News section. The Weight Division section of our website is utilized as a fighter database by our USKBA Licensed Promoters when seeking fighters for their events. Along with your licensing as a USKBA ACTION SPORTS Licensed Fighter you will also have an e-mail address through the USKBA ("your name"@uskba.com). All e-mails will be forwarded to you on a timely basis. All applications should be mailed to: USKBA ACTION SPORTS, PO Box 427, Dumont NJ 07628 USA.

In addition, in 2003, we will be instituting a "Points Earned" system" that will award points for wins, losses and draws when either fighting on a USKBA Sanctioned event or affiliated event. We will also issue a USKBA ACTION SPORTS Licensed Fighter ID Card and USKBA patch. USKBA ACTION SPORTS Fighter License Applications will also be sent through the mail. Don't delay...submit your application today!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2003

USKBA ACTION SPORTS Promoters Bruce and Lucinda Marshall (TBBP) has teamed with  USKBA ACTION SPORTS to begin a series of events called "COMBAT ZONE" that will feature Full Contact Kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Grappling, San Shou and various other ring sports. The first "COMBAT ZONE" event is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2003 and will headline USKBA ACTION SPORTS Championship Titles and feature additional bouts in Full Contact Kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA and Grappling. The series of "COMBAT ZONE" events will be held at the Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere, Massachusetts.

For additional information on the "COMBAT ZONE" event on April 25th, or of you are a fighter who would like to be considered for competition on "COMBAT ZONE" events, e-mail combatzone@uskba.com.

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^"BATTLE AT UNISON 2" IN MONTREAL RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH 1, 2003

USKBA ACTION SPORTS Promoter Angelo Di Bella has rescheduled his "BATTLE AT UNISON 2" kickboxing event from January 18, 2003 to March 1, 2003. This will be his third event at Unison. The first event, "THE USKBA CANADA/USA CUP", featured kickboxers from Canada and the United States competing for beautiful trophies and a team winning CANADA/USA Cup. The second event at Unison, "BATTLE AT UNISON" featured kickboxers from Canada competing for USKBA Canadian Championship Titles and six foot trophies. "BATTLE AT UNISON 2", on March 1st, will feature top USKBA Canadian kickboxers such as Anthony Rossi, Tanya Rossi, Peter Della Serra, Mart Garreffa, Julie Messina and Julien Neri. Kickboxers who want an opportunity to fight on this card, should contact the promoter at 514-385-5075.

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WISHING ALL OUR ASSOCIATES, MEMBERS AND FRIENDS A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
AS WE ENTER 2003...

The USKBA will continue it's work to sanction and promote our sports. We have established the year 2003 as "The Year of the Fighter". Our website will have a major emphasis on all our USKBA Licensed Fighters. We are in the process off adding ALL USKBA Licensed Fighters to our USKBA Champions and Licensed Fighters section. Each fighter will have their own area where we will include; fighter name, picture, home town, weight, height, date of birth, the various action sports they fight, the studio they train at, the date their license expires and their record of decisions. Each fighter will also have their own USKBA e-mail address. While we are in the midst of remodeling this section, we ask all current licensed fighters to check their information for accuracy and let us know should any corrections, deletions or additions needed to be made by e-mailing: webmaster@uskba.com. In addition, we ask all USKBA Licensed Fighters to e-mail us with any information and news they would like posted about themselves. Posting of such information is at the discretion of the USKBA. Some additional things we will be working on in 2003 are;

• use of the new name USKBA ACTION SPORTS to signify our involvement in Full Contact Kickboxing, Leg Kicks Kickboxing, Muay Thai, San Shou, Grappling, Mixed Martial Arts, Continuous Contact and Martial Arts.
• the date of our 2nd Annual 2003 USKBA ACTION SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS to be held at RexPlex Sports Complex in New Jersey in November 2003.
• the establishment of a certification program for all USKBA Officials in all USKBA ACTION SPORTS.
• the expansion of USKBA ACTION SPORTS Sanctioned events to additional areas of the United States.
• the expansion of USKBA ACTION SPORTS Sanctioned events to various countries throughout the world.
• the establishment of a "Points Earned" system to be utilized for all USKBA Licensed Fighters (to be posted in our USKBA Champions and Licensed Fighters section).
• the reopening of our USKBA ONLINE STORE to include the sale of videos from USKBA ACTION SPORTS Sanctioned events, USKBA Shirts, USKBA Satin Jackets and various USKBAwear items and USKBAgear equipment.
• the use of our USKBAbabes at various USKBA ACTION SPORTS Sanctioned events and promotional happenings.
• the establishment of our NEW Directory featuring training center listings and authorized USKBA Member Clubs.

^WELCOME NEW
USKBA ACTION SPORTS
LICENSED FIGHTERS

The USKBA welcomes the following newly licensed fighters to it's family:
 

CRUISERWEIGHT DIVISION	SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
VITO MILANO	CHRIS SCHULZE

To find out more about these USKBA ACTION SPORTS Licensed Fighters, go to their profiles in their respective divisions in our USKBA Champions and Licensed Fighters section. If you're a fighter who would like to be licensed by the USKBA and have your information appear on our website, e-mail us at info@uskba.com. Please incluse a mailing address to receive the requested paperwork. USKBA ACTION SPORTS...we work for you!