Roufus & Kognapa Defend IKF World Titles Successfully!

SUNDAY, March 21st, 1999, AT 5:30 PM/PST

It was announced as WORLD WAR III and from the results, this war was a GREAT ONE! IKF Promoter and World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Rules Champion Duke Roufus (212 lbs, 32-4-1 with 24 KO's) proved to everyone that the true reason it took him the full 5 scheduled rounds to first win the title by decision a few months back was CLEARLY due to the fact he was nursing 2 injuries to his right hand and ankle. Roufus quieted all the critics by starting hard and fast and then landed the "A Bomb" on Australia's WKA World Champion Grant "The Bomber" Barker (211 lbs, 41-11 with 32 KO's). In a combination which included a leg kick, 2 knees to Barker's head and finished with a high head kick, Roufus only took 39 seconds to Knockout the Australian in the opening round of the scheduled 5 round Muay Thai bout this last Friday night, March 19th at the Eagles Club Stadium in Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA.

After Roufus first won the title on December 8th, 1998, there were some "so called" critics who had made comments about Roufus' skill when he went the entire 5 scheduled rounds (5 X 3) against Hirawa TeRangi of Auckland, New Zealand when other Super Heavyweights had stopped TeRangi in earlier rounds. However, after his performance against Barker, those critics can "Rest in Peace" as Duke proved once again that, "DUKE" Roufus is the MAN to beat in Leg Kicks and Muay Thai fighting!

After his win, Roufus had a special announcement to make. That he was hanging up the Combination "Fighting-Promoting" gloves for good. Roufus let his hometown crowd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA know that he will no longer be doing the work of "Promoter" and "Fighter" on the same event. However, nothing says that Roufus is ready to hang up the fight gloves for good because as the saying goes, "Money Talks". Now Roufus will look to have other promoters promote him on their events and there are many interesting offers. It would be nice to see Duke scheduled to fight in K-1 with more than 2 weeks notice like the only 2 times he was ever in the tournament. If K-1comes in with a good offer and not a Last Minute Offer, Roufus may be ready to steal the show! Other offers that are currently on the table for Roufus will include some traveling to defend his World Title in England, Australia and other parts of USA.

Roufus as we have said before is one of the most active IKF promoters "WORLDWIDE". With 3 events completed, he and his promotional TEAM currently have 11 "MORE" events booked with the IKF in 1999. That schedule could expand to as many as 6 "MORE" events added to the already 11. The IKF Milwaukee Fitness & Phetnoi Gym Promotional Teamare moving strong and hard and are CLEARLY setting the pace for MUAY THAI here in North America. They have done more for the growth of Pro as well as amateur Muay Thai in North America than "ANY" other promoter "EVER" has because they have featured EVENLY MATCHED bouts from "WELL KNOWN" INTERNATIONAL Champions from all over the world. They are clearly, THE REAL DEAL!!!!

In the second IKF World Title bout of the night, Milwaukee Phetnoi Gym's Kongnapa, "King of the Sky" (150 lbs, 4-time Ratchdamnern Thailand Stadium Champion with over 180 bouts) of Thailand successfully defend his IKFPro Junior Middleweight Muay Thai Rules World title with a 5 round unanimous decision against ISKA & WKA Champion, Marcus "Mad Dog" Mangan (147.5 lbs, 30-3-3 with 22 KO's ) of Australia, 48-46, 49-44 and 50-44. Once again, Kongnapa was faced with a World Class opponent as he was last month in Eval Denton of England. Proof once again that the Milwaukee Kickboxing Promotional Team is not just bringing in people to be beat like we have seen in other promotions across the globe. This was Kongnapa's second title defense in a row against a top ranked fighter. In the second round, it looked as if Kongnapa could put Mangan away but Mangan fought back strong and answered back with some great combinations of his own. Kongnapa used several leg sweeps to disrupt Mangan throughout the bout which seemed to be a major factor on Mangan's ability to counter or attack. The sweeps combined with Kongnapa's hand and feet combinations seemed to throw off Mangan's timing just as he would seem to get any rhythm going. This was a great fight and was the most exciting fight of the night as Mangan proved to the American crowd, the Aussie's came to FIGHT! This will not be Mangan's only shot at an IKF World Title. We plan to see a lot more of him in both the Muay Thai and International Rules divisions later this year. Mangan, as well as Grant Barker would be much stronger fighters at a lower weight class. We'll see what the future brings them both. Watch out World... Don't count these Aussie's out!!! All Great fighters will suffer some loses here and there. But what makes them real champions, are the ones who comeback and win another day! And we are sure to see this in the future!

Another VERY EXCITING bout featured Dan Rawlings of Euclid Ohio, USA against Khan Phetvixay of Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA. Rawlings came in nearly 6 lbs under weight but accepted the bout anyway with approval of the IKF to allow him to if desired. Phetvixay rocked Rawlings with a leg kick in the second round that forced referee Al Wichers to give him a standing 8 count, but from that moment on, this bout was ALL RAWLINGS!

Rawlings came back to DOMINATE this bout with some of the most exciting hand, knee and kick combinations we have ever seen. After taking several blows, Phetvixay should have been given a standing 8 in round 3 but referee Al Wichers choose not to. However, in round 4, Rawlings attack was even better, this time forced Phetvixay to a standing 8 count after a great flurry that ended with a STRONG right hand to Phetvixay's head. Rawlings seemed to land his jab and right hand at will as he dominated the final round but just couldn't put Phetvixay away who proved to be a very strong fighter. Rawlings won the bout by unanimous decision, 48-45, 47-44 and 49-44.

In the other bouts Derek Yuen of Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA defeated Shane Meads of Sydney, Australia by unanimous decision, 29-27, 30-26 and 29-28. This was Meads first amateur bout and did very well against Yuen. We hope to see a lot more of Meads in the future and on some upcoming IKF Australia events.

In a rematch of two tough heavyweights, Jim Heberer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA defeated Guiseppe Denatale of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada by unanimous decision, 50-45 on all 3 judges cards. Heberer had won the first meeting between the two several months ago in a much closer match. However, on this occasion, Heberer seemed to dominate the inside fight with a much improved knee attack.

Jason Dent of Madison Ohio, USA and Vin Bounnavong of Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA were scheduled to fight but neither came in at their "BOOKED" weight of 165 lbs. Dent weighed in the afternoon before the event at 153 lbs while Bounnavong weighed in at 169 the night before the bout but jumped to 180 the afternoon of the event... So much for trying to lose those extra pounds. FIGHTERS!!! Come IN at your BOOKED WEIGHT!!! Be professional and you'll always be treated as PROFESSIONALS, even as amateurs! Lets be serious about our work!

Event officials included: Judges: B.J. Lavota, Mike Hess, Anthony Randazzo,and Sal D'Amato, Referee: Al Wichgers, Timekeeper: Tom Fischer, Ring Announcer Kieron Davis. The Medical staff from Bell Ambulance: David Myers and Rob Moore and HEY... Where was Bethany?

For more info about this event or upcoming events, contact Milwaukee Kickboxing & Fitness and the Phetnoi Gym at (414) 319-1151.