Fifty-five fighters, including Filipino medal winners in the recent Asian Samvo championships held in Uzbekistan, will see action in the coming “Ultimate Strikers” III Muaythai Kickboxing tournament Nov. 30 at the SM Southmall in Las Piñas City.
National Muaythai Kickboxing Council of the Philippines president Emmanuel Sabrine yesterday announced that Jessie Full Rapols, silver medallist in the 62-kilogram category of the Asian tilt held Oct. 9, Arnel Arancen and Denis Salazar, bronze medal winners in the 68-kg. and 58-kg. classes, respectively, have confirmed their participation in the tourney.
A pair of Iranian boxers, including Sayed Razee Zavare, winner of the 72-kg. division in the last Russia-Iran duel meet, have also flown to Manila to participate in the NMLBC-sanctioned, 12-division competition, according to Sabrine during yesterday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restauran-Padre Faura.
Topnotch fighters from Manila, Quezon City, Rizal, Pampanga, Iloilo, Cebu, Surigao, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga have also signified their intention to take part in the one-day affair.
Events to be contested are from 28-kg. to 78-kg.
“This annual Ultimate Strikers event is one of the major projects of the NMKBC in propagating the sport of kickboxing so that we can be able to do our share in preventing our youth to be involved in drugs and other criminal activities,” Sabrine said in the forum, sponsored by ACCEL.
“ We also have a weekly program at the Luneta and other parks in Metro Manila teaching kids as young as nine years old in our efforts to entice them to engage in wholesome activities, “ Sabrine said.
Sabrine appeared as guest in the session accompanied by Zavare, Rapols, Arancen and Salazar.