HILO — Fighters from around the Aloha State made their way to Hilo over the weekend to compete in the largest international youth kickboxing tournament Hawaii has ever seen. Saturday’s Toughman Hawaii’s Next Generation Interisland Qualifier (for keiki fighters aged 6-18) at the Hilo Civic proved to live up to every bit of what it was hyped to be.
Of the 25 fights on the event card, nine of them went an extra round. Each winner advanced to the semifinals, which will take place in mid-October at the Civic. With a massive crowd cheering on the keiki from the islands they originate from, the entire place was rocking all evening.
Leading off the show were two 7-year olds that came out dancing down the ramp as they made their entrance. Makua Kawelo Perrin and Na’au Moniz set the pace of what would be an incredible night. Little brother of Mila Gambol, Trenten Gambol, made his Toughman debut and kept the crowd into it, until fellow teammates Kenden Flores and Jhayse Gines came out to keep the ball rolling.
Team Molokai came out banging, as it earned several wins — including the ‘Best Fight of the Night’ and ‘Outstanding Individual Performance’ awards. Brothers Nowelo, La’akolu and Pono Miller from Grace Academy-Hilo not only won their respective matches, but received ‘Outstanding Individual Performance’ honors as well. The night just got better and better as the fights went on — keiki doing what they love and performing at levels that they didn’t even know they could reach.
Leading the main card was Uriah Elaban, who made his well-anticipated return to the tournament — winning a unanimous decision over a very tough Central Maui opponent in Jack Ka’ai. Oahu’s Team Revelation came out strong, winning several of its scheduled fights and advancing into October’s semifinals.
The Martial Arts Company of Honolulu sent two very talented kids to put on a show. Shelby ‘Mighty Mouse’ Tabios went four rounds against a very tough opponent from Maui — Shaylynn Candaroma-Texeira — to pull off a close split decision to advance her to a title shot in the fall. Karter Sakaue put on a clinic as well. Both Tabios and Sakaue captured ‘Outstanding Individual Performance’ awards.
Team Waianae’s Zerek Ahsing and Brandon San Miguel were both able to earn their first tournament wins. Every single fight on this card was exciting — especially our main event between two of Hawaii’s most dominant youth fighters. Nalu Moniz from Grace Academy-Hilo came into the arena with one goal — to strip SWR Puna’s Keeyan Flores of his undefeated, undisputed welterweight title. What a fight this was, as these kids showed what it takes to be a champion.
As these two stars went at it for six rounds, the Civic roared their names. In my 24 years of running this event, I have never seen anything like this before — to see so many people chanting and motivating each fighter. But in the end, Moniz proved to be the better man that night and captured his goal, becoming the new Toughman Hawaii Welterweight Champion. These two 17-year-old kids are going to make Hawaii proud someday.
I believe Hawaii kids are built differently, and with the support of all the coaches, parents and fans helping to teach discipline, respect and sportsmanship…we are all building the future of Hawaii combat sports together.
— Written by Walter Carvalho, Toughman Promoter, edited by Conor Langs.