* Sammy Rosa def. Derek Romero. By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer Tyler Leopoldino made Theodore Brown surrender and won back Hilo’s respect at the Toughman Hawaii Challengers, but didn’t bring home the 120-pound flyweight title on Saturday night.
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Tyler Leopoldino made Theodore Brown surrender and won back Hilo’s respect at the Toughman Hawaii Challengers, but didn’t bring home the 120-pound flyweight title on Saturday night.
Leopoldino cracked the Waianae champion in the ribs in the second round and followed with a flying knee before about 800 fans at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
A dazed Brown shook his head when the referee asked if he could continue, giving Leopoldino the technical knockout victory with 1:15 remaining in the round.
However, Toughman Hawaii promoter Wally Carvalho Jr. announced Leopoldino was over the weight limit, which negated the title fight, turning it into a regular grudge match.
Carvalho said the two will fight in a rematch for the title on May 26 at Edith Kanakaole Stadium at the next Hawaii Toughman, which will sell for $10 tickets.
After Brown earlier won the title, he boasted, “I can beat anybody in Hilo. I’m the best at that weight. That’s why I have the belt. I’ll fight and beat anybody in Hilo.”
Leopoldino made him eat those words over two rounds of harsh punishment.
In the first round, Brown stayed out on the perimeter and kept circling. But when Leopoldino charged in he socked Brown with a few good blows, saving his best stuff for the second and final round.
Dylan Rush delivered a TKO 34 seconds into the fourth round against Chris Barnard for the super heavyweight title, dropping him several times with lethal body blows.
The other title fight between Riquo Abadilla and Isreal Lovelace for the 125-pound junior flyweight title was scratched.
In another semi-main event, Ashton “One Whack Medivac” and Oahu’s Ben “Da King” Santiago closed the gap on each other and got in a few good licks, but none punishing enough to floor the other. Santiago won with a three-round decision.
Ljohn Borges defeated Lavelle “Nature Boy” Brown, the Just Scrap 170-pound welterweight champion, with a three-round decision. (He still retains his mixed martial arts belt.)
In the first round, Borges clamped Brown’s head in a Muay Thai clinch, and landed a ton of knees that led to a bloody nose.
In the second, Brown prevented Borges from closing the distance with devastating kicks to his lead left leg. He also rocked a solid knee to Borges’ head late in the round.
The third round was a mirror of the second. Brown landed hard kicks to Borges’ lead leg, and he couldn’t advance to inflict any damage on the Just Scrap champ. However, Borges walked off with a bruised left leg and the decision.
In other bouts:
* Conrado Martin def. Kalai McShane.
* Junior division: Uriel Santiago def. Justin Yamaguchi, first-round TKO, 1:13.
* Robert Midel def. Albert Manners.
* Dillion Fillekes def. Soloman Lord.
* Larson Tokeshi def. Chris Miranda.
* Keoni Rodrigues def. Quinten Vea, first-round TKO, 2:00, flying knee.
* Derek Mahi def. Charles Brown.
* Jaison Irving def. Zachary Rodrigues, second-round TKO, 1:27
* Shane Waiwaiole def. Juanito Raquel.
* Junior division: Kainoa Limkin def. Nathaniel Kekahu.
* Ikaika Rodrigues def. Roderik Belen.
* JR Grant def. Joey Cruz.
* Michael Thompson def. Kentzin Santos.
* Andrew Sanchis def. Jashua McCullough, third-round corner stoppage, 2:41.
* Bronson Gambol def. Mathew Majamay.
* Wahine: Kehaulani Rodrigues def. Dawn Tabag.
* Elijah Apao def. Talen Saragosa.
* Sammy Rosa def. Derek Romero.
