Emmanuel TKOs Iakopo in ROF co-main event
The penultimate co-event fight of the successful Ring of Fire boxing and kickboxing event starring veteran Stanley “Raging Bull” Iakopo vs. Guam Muay Thai’s Sam “Tank” Emmanuel ended in the second-round win via a TKO by the latter.
Iakopo held his ground in the first round as he let out a flurry of fast and furious punches that were taken pretty well by the younger Emmanuel. The first round was well fought by both as they didn’t seem to break too much of a sweat.
However, Emmanuel didn’t hold back in the second round as Iakopo quickly gassed out with each lackluster punch he threw. Holding on to Emmanuel for support and to catch his breath, Iakopo tried to regain strength, but after a combo by Emmanuel, Iakopo went down before the second round ended.
Clearly dazed, Iakopo’s corner conceded and the match was called and the referee handed the TKO victory to Emmanuel.
There were 21 fights—with the main event reported on Monday. The following are the results of the rest of the fights before the co and main event.
GMT’s Jeremiah “J-Comp” Taitingfong battered and bruised Latte Built’s Bon Sagana in the light heavyweight kickboxing bout, 30-23, 30-26, and 30-27.
In the middleweight kickboxing bout, independent fighter Antwon Indalecio knocked out independent fighter Jonel Enriquez 2:15 into the fight.
An electric up-and-coming boxer, Jamaal “The Animal” Mresbang, from the Mauler Boxing Club won unanimously versus Trench Tech’s “Korean Blood” Ram Lee, 29-27, 30-26, and 30-27.
In the welterweight kickboxing match, Nelson Saimon went down in just 56 seconds as he was shown no mercy by Jose Camacho. In another welterweight kickboxing match, GMT’s Isaac Crisostomo pounded Trench Tech’s E.J. “Prod” Nekaifes into a split decision win, 30-29, 28-29, and 30-27.
Up-and-coming fighter Mike “Shotgun” Camacho of Trench Tech put up a fiery lightweight kickboxing match against veteran fighter, GMT’s John “Bones” Lee, and won in split decision, 27-25, 28-29, 29-28.
RM Sport’s Mathew Moriano out-boxed MBC’s Gren “Hitman” Cepeda in a lightweight boxing match and won via unanimous decision, 28-27, 30-27, and 30-27.
Trench Tech’s Nosh Demapan unanimously won in a featherweight kickboxing bout against MCMMA/PRIMEVIL’s Saips Thuy, 28-25, 30-27, 30-27.
In the bantamweight boxing match, RM Sport’s Jerome Cariaga beat Latte Built’s Josh Soccorro, 30-28, 25-24, and 28-28; in another boxing matchup in the same weight class, Trench Tech’s Mametto Iakopo mauled MBC’s Glaine “Saipan Mauler” Cepeda, 25-28, 29-28, and 30-29; MCMM/PRIMEVIL’s Justin Agulto kickboxed his way to a second-round win against Jimmy “Crazy Ray” Polk; Trench Tech’s Audiscott Iakopo won unanimously over independent fighter Leo Tenorio, 29-24, 30-26, and 30-27; and in the first bantamweight kickboxing bout, Trench Tech’s C.J. Hofschneider knocked down Team Undisputed’s Jay “Tabi” Muna in 2:32.
In the atom weight division, Dillan Pomdi knocked out Trench Tech’s Keith “The Rowdy Rebel” Aldan at 1:56 in Round 2; Dre “Drizzy” Aldan won via split decision against Javen Montenegro, 28-25, 29-28, and 29-29; Trench Tech’s Vicente “Bengbeng the Dengdeng” Palacios gunned down MCMMA/PRIMEVIL’s Gunzy Tomei; independent fighter Angelo Pulido kickboxed his way to win against Phil “PrimeTTime” Gregorio; and GMT’s Knighty Soulik went pound for pound and won in unanimous decision against MBC’s Edryan “The Sniper” Bayot.
And in the flyweight division, GMC’s Patterson Joseph won unanimously over Latte Built’s Salvatore “The Tiger” Gotti, 30-29, 30-28, 29-28.
After the main event between Trench Tech’s Andres “Tanapag Beach Bad Boy” Camacho and GMT’s Jake Albert that went into the wee hours of Sunday, organizer Justis “Cuki” Alvarez said the long-awaited return of fight night in the Marianas was a success.
“It was a long night, it was a long couple of months of preparation, but it all paid off in the end. I’m just so happy that we finally were able to bring back combat sports to the Northern Mariana Islands. It’s been too long,” said Alvarez.
He said after Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018 and COVID-19, the timing wasn’t right to bring it back. But now, the timing was “right. Everybody had a very merry Christmas and I told everybody we’re gonna end the year with a bang, and that’s exactly what we did.”
As for the fights, Alvarez said all the fighters were itching and were ready to rumble as seen with their aggressiveness out of the starting gate. Overall, Alvarez said, he’s “super happy with their performance. All the kids fought well. They fought their hearts out and they gave it their all and they put on a show for all the fans in attendance.”
With that, the attendance of over 600 was not a surprise to Alvarez. “Although I’m super impressed with the turnout, I’m not surprised because it’s a long time coming and fans just gravitated…”
He then thanked the sponsors IT&E, Miller Lite, Heineken, Hafa Adai Rent-A-Car, and Century Hotel.
Guam’s Sam “The Tank” Emmanuel corners Trench Tech’s Stanley “The Raging Bull” Iakopo on the ropes during their co-main event fight in the Ring of Fire at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse early Sunday morning.
-LEIGH GASES
Mauler Boxing Club’s Jamaal “The Animal” Mresbang is introduced alongside his coach, former professional boxer, Miguel Arrozal, second right, before his boxing match in the Ring of Fire at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse last Saturday night.
-LEIGH GASES
Ring of Fire organizer Justis “Cuki” Alvarez says his thanks to the crowd of over 600 during an intermission of the matches last Saturday at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse.
-LEIGH GASES
Stanley “The Raging Bull” Iakopo, left, sizes up his opponent, Sam “The Tank” Emmanuel during their co-main event bout of the Ring of Fire event early Sunday morning at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse.
-LEIGH GASES
Light heavy weight kickboxing contender Bon Sagana of Latte Built throws a punch against opponent Guam’s Jeremiah “J-Comp” Taitingfong in the Ring of Fire event last Saturday at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse.
-LEIGH GASES
