The new season of Toughman Hawaii Next Generation youth kickboxing will begin this weekend, on Saturday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
The isle’s biggest youth combat sports show has broadened its horizons to a global scale — featuring 25 fights with competitors from India, Canada, the Philippines, California, Las Vegas, Maui, O‘ahu, Kona, Hilo, Puna and beyond.
Toughman promoter Walter Carvalho has called his show “the state’s biggest ever youth combat sports event,” and recently claimed that it “has become one of the largest international (junior) division martial arts competitions in the world.”
The last season ended late September of 2023, and many fighters will return to defend the titles that they won at the season finale.
The card will feature four title fights, starting with Kailua-Kona local and defending 90 lbs. champion Naveah Ha‘o taking on Pamela Yost — who currently holds three different titles in California.
Next, Rysaiah Abadilla from Abadilla training center will fight five rounds for the 120lb divisional title against top-ranked San Jose, Calif. fighter Joel Castillo, of Hills Training.
Maui’s Damien Aki will take on Anthony Cardenas — also from Hills Training — in a five round rematch for the 110 lb title. Aki defeated Cardenas by split decision in their last bout in September.
The main event of the evening will see two undefeated fighters clash in the first-ever THNG Jr. Division heavyweight title. O‘ahu’s Avyous Lafaele will battle five rounds against Hilo’s Treyston Leopoldino in what Carvalho says “will surely be a battle of the bulls.”
Many well-known coaches, both locally and nationally, have entered fighters in the event —including Delbert Grace of Grace Academy, Rica and Isaiah Hill from Hills Training, coach Nainoa ‘Baby Face Assassin’ Dung of Young boys Inc., leeward O‘ahu UFC fighter Martin ‘The Spartan’ Day and Maui’s Brandon Visher.
Some of the local fighters featured include Mila Gambol, Kayla Becerra, Jhayse Gines, Kamaulioa Willems, Micah Grace Mario Ramirez, Elijah Joaquin, Kaimana Samoa, Addy Kaleopaa, Boggie Garcia, Zerek Ahsing, Skyler Young, Rica Hill, Dynasty Sanchez, Bethany Geben, Zuri Kaiwi, Kamila Adame, Kaya Grace Shelby Tasios, Navaeh Bargas, RJ Joaquin, AJ De Luna, Maximo Kyle, Zander Avalos, Makoa Menino, La‘akolu Miller and more.
