It was a successful start to another season of youth kickboxing as Toughman Hawaii Next Generation held its first show of the year last Saturday in Hilo.
“It was an absolutely amazing show,” Toughman promoter Walter Carvalho said. “It was an amazing crowd, over 1,000 people were there, and we had 1,800 viewers on the livestream. The most important part is that every kid came there to perform, and did outstanding.”
Young fighters from all over the state, as well as the mainland, converged upon Afook-Chinen Civic Audtiorium to throw hands in 24 fights — including the first-ever THNG heavyweight title fight, in which Hilo’s Treysten Liopoldino defeated Avyous Lafaele, of O‘ahu.
Big Island fighters found great amounts of success in both the early events and title bouts.
Hilo’s Rysaiah Abdilla defeated California’s Joel Castillo to win the semi-main event, 120 lbs. title and become the third in his family to win a Toughman belt. His uncle — the late Donald Gonzales — and his father, Riquo Abadilla, were both Toughman Hawaii champions — back when the organization still held fights between adults.
In a vaguely similar turn of events, three brothers from Hilo notched wins on Saturday. Hilo’s Miller brothers — Pono, La‘akolu and Nowello — all defeated their opponents, helping lead Hilo’s Grace Academy to a 4-2 finish on the night alongside Bethany Geben’s win.
Outstanding individual performance awards were presented to Abadilla, all three Miller brothers and Geben, along with Mila Gambol, Mario Ramirez, Kaimana Saunoa, Rica Hill and Luis Becerra.
Kailua-Kona’s Naveah Ha‘o won her second career Toughman belt, defeating Pamela Yost — a Hills Training Academy fighter from San Jose, Calif. who holds three belts from mainland shows. Ha‘o, daughter of professional MMA fighter Scotty Ha‘o, will defend her belt at one of Toughman’s upcoming shows.
The ‘Best Fight of the Night’ award was shared by two bouts — Neveah Bargas versus Shelby Tasios and AJ Deluna versus RJ Joaquin.
Two more THNG shows are scheduled for the calendar year — July 6 and the two-day season finale on Nov. 1 and 2.
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ALL RESULTS
Event 1 55lbs: Mario Ramirez def. Micah Grace
Event 2 60lbs: Dicesan Sanchez def. Dieter Dela Cruz
Event 3 80lbs: Luis Becerra def. Blaze Perez
Event 4 90lbs: Jhayse Gines def. Kamaole Williams
Event 5 60lbs: Rica Hill def. Dynasty Sanchez
Event 6 90lbs: Maximo Kyle def. Alexander Avalos
Event 7 110lbs: Juno Berim def. Marley Quintal
Event 8 120lbs: Bethany Gebins def. Zuri Kaiwi
Event 9 70lbs: Alize McCuahy def. Styra Hoohuli
Event 10 95lbs: Nowello Miller def. Calen Seay
Event 11 110lbs: Shelbey Tasios def. Naveah Bargas
Event 12 80lbs: Mila Gambol def. Kayla Becerra
80lbs title: Neveah Ha‘o def. Pamela Yost
Event 14 120lbs: Zaydon Young def. Austin Enos
Event 15 200lbs: Boogie Garcia def. Addy Kaleopa‘a
Event 16 140lbs: La‘akolu Miller def. Makoa Menino
Event 17 150lbs: RJ Joaquin def. AJ De Luna
Event 18 110lbs: Skyler Young def. Zerek Ahsing
Event 19 145lbs: Pono Miller def. Jayden Wood
110lbs title: Anthony Cardenas def. Damien Aki
120lbs title: Rysaiah Abadilla def. Joel Castillo
Heavyweight title: Treysten Liopoldino def. Avyous Lafaele