Miracle man Dustin Jacoby to face rising star Michael Dutt

Glory World Series-news

 
 

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23.03.2013 SATURDAY  England
ENGLAND / LONDON
 
 


 
 

SINGAPORE (March 20, 2013)

Less than two months after he pulled off a miraculous victory in the inaugural development Road To GLORY USA light heavyweight (209 pounds) tournament, Dustin Jacoby (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Arenzville, Illinois has been added to the highly anticipated GLORY 5 London kickboxing mega-card at ExCel Arena on Saturday, March 23, and will face fellow rising star Michael Duut (36-3, 16 KOs) of Amsterdam, Holland, Glory Sports International announced today.

Jacoby shocked the kickboxing world by winning the first-ever development Road To GLORY USA tournament at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Okla. on Feb. 1, after accepting the offer to compete as a last-minute replacement for one of the eight original tournament fighters, on just 36 hours’ notice. Jacoby steamrolled his way through the field, stopping all three of his opponents – Randy Blake, Roy Boughton and Brian Collette – inside the distance in the one-night, single-elimination playoff.

To date, Jacoby has primarily competed under MMA rules. Seven of his eight career MMA wins have come by (T)KO and he has yet to be stopped.

Dustin Jacoby’s performance in the development Road To GLORY USA tournament was really something special and is what earned him a place on GLORY’s big stage,” said Glory Sports International CEO Andrew Whitaker . “Of course, now he will be tasked with competing against an opponent with a great deal more experience in the kickboxing ring than he has faced yet, so it will be very interesting to see how he fares against this stiffer challenge in Michael Duut.

Like Jacoby, Duut has demonstrated tremendous striking power. His decimation of former Dutch amateur boxing champion Ricardo van den Bos last November was nominated for the 2012 ‘KO of the Year’ award by kickboxing media outlet Liverkick.com.

Glory Sports International also confirmed today that U.S. karate sensation Raymond Daniels has been removed from the GLORY 5 London card and will be rescheduled to compete soon.

In the highly-anticipated heavyweight main event, all-time great and three-time K-1 World Grand Prix tournament champion Remy Bonjasky (77-15, 40 KO’s) of Netherlands will take on ferocious, surging superstar Tyrone Spong (68-6-1 42 KO’s) of Boca Raton, Fla. via Netherlands.

 
 
About GLORY:
The GLORY World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

 
With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

 
Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel includes a diverse mix of award-winning hedge-fund and private equity investors; principals from pioneering sports marketing agency Total Sport Asia; and senior level executives from several leading sports franchises, including WWE, FIFA, Golden Glory, Champions League and It’s Showtime.
 
 
Source:  Glory World Series
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series No:37
 
 
BACK TO THE EVENT
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

Superstars align for GLORY 8 Tokyo

Glory World Series-news

 
 
 
 
 
 
[tminus t=“2013-05-03 18:59:59″ style=“carbonlite“ /]
 
 


 
 

FEATHERWEIGHT ‘SLAM’ KICKBOXING TOURNAMENT FRIDAY, MAY 3
Kevin Ross, Abdellah Ezbiri, Mosab Amrani, Marcos Vinicius and ROAD TO GLORY Japan winner slated for action

in eight-man, single-elimination tournament Tickets on sale Friday, March 1

 
 

SINGAPORE (Feb. 28, 2013) – GLORY, the world’s new premier kickboxing league, will return to Tokyo, Japan with a one-night, eight-man, single-elimination ‘Slam’ tournament featuring a collection of the brightest stars in the featherweight (65 kilograms/143 pounds) division, at Ariake Coliseum on Friday, May 3.

American superstar Kevin EL PRESIDENTE Ross (37-9, 12 KOs) of Dublin, Calif. will make his highly-anticipated GLORY debut in the tournament field where he will be faced with an assembly of cutthroat competition in three-time French kickboxing champion Abdellah Ezbiri (32-6, 11 KOs) of Morocco via France, world Muay Thai champion Mosab THE JAGUAR Amrani (48-7-4, 14 KOs) of Holland and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil reality series contestant and KO artist Marcos Vinicius (MMA Record: 20-4-1, 7 KOs) of Curitiba, Brazil.

Joining the first four elite fighters thus far confirmed for the tournament that will award its competitors with a total of $180,000 in prize money, including $100,000 to the winner, will be the victor of the inaugural, eight-man, development series ROAD TO GLORY Japan tournament at Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Sunday, March 10, as well as three additional competitors to be announced soon.

Tickets for GLORY 8 Tokyo on Friday, May 3, beginning at 16:00 at Ariake Coliseum, will be priced from ¥5,000, and will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. JST tomorrow, Friday, March 1, online at Pia, E-Plus and Lawson Ticket.

“With the fighter selection process for the GLORY 8 Tokyo featherweight Slam tournament underway, we are assembling what could very well be the most competitive tournament field in the history of kickboxing’s featherweight division,” said GLORY Sports International Managing Director Marcus Luer. “We are bringing together the best possible group of talent from all parts of the world in order to determine who the reigning king of this division is.

Ross, the 2010 Muay Thai North American Fighter of the Year, is widely recognized as the face of kickboxing in the U.S. During his stellar career, the 32-year-old technician has faced and defeated a host of top-ranked rivals, including decorated Thai champions Malaipet THE DIAMOND Sasiprapa and COKE Chunhawat.

The 25-year-old Ezbiri has made waves both in his native Europe as well as in Japan where he was the winner of another eight-man tournament in 2011 and finished as runner-up after a controversial decision loss in the championship stage of a 67 kilogram/148 pound tournament at the hands of Japanese phenom Yuta Kubo on Jan. 14.

Amrani, a 25-year-old, former intercontinental Muay Thai champion, rose to power after stopping Thai champions Anuwat Kaewsamrit and Bovy Sor Udomson in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Amrani also boasts a victory over Moroccan southpaw phenom Ibrahim Chiahou. His tournament start marks a drop in weight after a stint at 70 kilograms/154 pounds.

Vinicius has gained widespread acclaim for his power since earning ‘KO of the Night’ honors at UFC 147 where he decimated Wagner Campos with a barrage of punches and knee strikes in the third round of their matchup on June 23, 2012. During his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Vinicius trained under legend Wanderlei Silva.

 
 
 
 
About GLORY:
The GLORY World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

 
With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

 
Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel includes a diverse mix of award-winning hedge-fund and private equity investors; principals from pioneering sports marketing agency Total Sport Asia; and senior level executives from several leading sports franchises, including WWE, FIFA, Golden Glory, Champions League and It’s Showtime.
 
 
Source:  
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series / No:37
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMP STEPHEN WAKELING TO BATTLE KO ARTIST EDDIE ‘SHOWTIME’ WALKER AT STAR-STUDDED GLORY 5 LONDON KICKBOXING EVENT MARCH 23

Glory World Series-news

 
 

[tminus t=“2013-03-23 18:59:59″ style=“carbonlite“ weeks=“weeks“ days=“days“ hours=“hours“ minutes=“minutes“ seconds=“seconds“ /]

23.03.2013 SATURDAY  England
ENGLAND / LONDON
 
 


 
 
SINGAPORE (Feb. 26, 2013)

Four-time world champion Stephen Wakeling (36-4, 14 KO’s) of Kent, England will square off with fast-rising KO artist Eddie SHOWTIME Walker (11-2-1, 9 KOs) of Atlanta, Ga. in a middleweight (85 kilograms/187 pounds) contest at the star-studded GLORY 5London kickboxing event at ExCel Arena in London, England on Saturday, March 23, Glory Sports International announced today.

The 29-year-old Wakeling, renowned for his excellent conditioning and tendency to inflict heavy punishment on opponents, has faced and defeated a host of top-ranked rival superstars, including Thailand’s famed world champion Jaowchalam Chatjanokgym and Australian powerhouse Wayne JOHN Parr. On July 7, 2012, Wakeling fought pound-for-pound sensation Artem Levin to a draw in a spectacular, five-round bout in England.

Wakeling comes from a high pedigree of fighting stock. His father Mark was a successful fighter in his own right and had a career which culminated with a fight in Thailand’s prestigious annual King’s Cup tournament in 1998. Wakeling’s brother, Mike, is a European champion.

Walker, experienced a career breakthrough last year when he scored a shocking, upset KO of WBC interim Muay Thai champion Joe STITCH EM UP Schilling after Schilling had put Walker down twice early in the fight in Las Vegas, Nev.

The come-from-behind victory earned Walker a spot in the ROAD TO GLORY USA inaugural, middleweight development series tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. on Feb. 9. There, Walker finished as runner-up after scoring a second round (1:26) KO on Edgar Del Fierro and a second round (2:13) TKO on Povey van Wyk in the quarterfinal and semifinal stages of the tournament, respectively.

Walker is known for possessing frightening power in both hands and, with 9 of his 11 professional wins by way of stoppage inside the distance, he has an incredible 81 percent finish rate. Walker trains under Manu N’toh, a renowned instructor who also counts UFC middleweight Brian Stann among his students, and posted a 7-0 amateur record before turning professional in 2010.

In the highly-anticipated heavyweight main event, decorated, all-time great Remy Bonjasky (77-15, 40 KO’s) of The Netherlands will take on ferocious, surging superstar Tyrone Spong (68-6-1 42 KO’s) of Boca Raton, Fla. via The Netherlands.

 
 
About GLORY:
The GLORY World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

 
With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

 
Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel includes a diverse mix of award-winning hedge-fund and private equity investors; principals from pioneering sports marketing agency Total Sport Asia; and senior level executives from several leading sports franchises, including WWE, FIFA, Golden Glory, Champions League and It’s Showtime.
 
 
Source:  Glory World Series
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series No:37
 
 
BACK TO THE EVENT
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

GLORY 6

Glory World Series-news

 
 
 
 
 
 

HEAVYWEIGHT KICKBOXING SUPERSTARS
GOKHAN SAKI AND DANIEL GHITA TO COLLIDE IN
LONG-AWAITED REMATCH AND GLORY MAIN EVENT
IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 6
TICKETS FOR GLORY 6 ISTANBUL ON SALE NOW

 
 


 
 

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Feb. 7, 2013) – For the second time in their careers, heavyweight superstar rivals Gokhan Saki THE REBEL (79-16, 55 KOs) of the Netherlands and Daniel Ghita THE SAVAGE SAMURAI (46-8, 35 KOs) of Romania will collide in the ring, in the main event of GLORY 6 Istanbul on Saturday April 6, it was confirmed today by Glory Sports International (GSI).

Tickets for the event, which takes place at the Ülker Sports Arena, are priced from 28TL and are available for purchase online via Biletix/Ticketmaster Turkey.

Just over two years after their December 2010 fight, Saki and Ghita will reprise their roles as adversaries in a meeting that will have the attention of fight fans all over the world. Their first clash was an instant classic and this rematch has an added edge because a shot at the GLORY World Heavyweight Title is on the line for the winner.

Daniel Ghita is ranked No. 2 in the world and Gokhan Saki is ranked No. 3, so this fight will determine which of them is to go on and become the top contender for the GLORY World Heavyweight Title currently held by world No. 1  Semmy Schilt SEM,” says   Marcus Luer, Managing Director of GSI.

“Both of these fighters are absolutely at the peak of their games right now. You only have to look at their performances in the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Slam in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve. Saki scored two lightning-quick KOs before exiting in the semi-final stage and Ghita stopped two of his three opponents to earn a spot in the championship round of the event.”

“The GLORY Heavyweight Championship is the most prestigious belt in kickboxing today and they want it badly – they just have to go through each other to get it.”

”Saki was raised in the Netherlands but is of Turkish heritage and is very proud of his roots. He is a big name in his ancestral land and will quickly find himself being mobbed for pictures and autographs if he wanders the streets of a big city. Ghita is entering the lion’s den by agreeing to face Saki in the Turkish capital of Istanbul, but the former bodyguard to the Romanian president knows no fear.”

Both fighters saw the New Year in with a bang via their performances in the Grand Slam. Saki demolished Japanese contender Raoumaru in the opening stage and then flattened top Brazilian heavyweight Anderson Silva BRADDOCK. He was scoring well against Schilt, but the judges had Schilt winning the first two rounds, and so Schilt advanced to the final under the ‘Best of Three Rounds’ tournament rule.

Ghita’s New Year’s Eve tournament run started with a surprisingly vicious challenge from young Jhonata Diniz of Curitiba, Brazil, who established himself as one to watch but was ultimately beaten by the Romanian. Ghita then faced Mourad Bouzidi and dislocated the Tunisian’s shoulder with an uppercut before facing Moroccan prospect Jamal Ben Saddik and taking him out in 10 seconds with a liver kick.

 
 
 
About GLORY:

The GLORY World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel includes a diverse mix of award-winning hedge-fund and private equity investors; principals from pioneering sports marketing agency Total Sport Asia; and senior level executives from several leading sports franchises, including WWE, FIFA, Golden Glory, Champions League and It’s Showtime.

 
 
Source:  
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series / No:37
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

Jessica Penne to defend atomweight title against Michelle Waterson

Invicta FC News

 
 
 
 
 
 

INVICTA FC BRINGS WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER TO AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL KANSAS CITY FRIDAY, APRIL 5
JESSICA PENNE TO DEFEND ATOMWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST MICHELLE WATERSON VANESSA PORTO TO FACE BARB HONCHAK IN FIRST-EVER INVICTA FC SUPER FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
PLUS ZOILA FRAUSTO GURGEL MAKES INVICTA FC DEBUT AGAINST
SUBMISSION ACE JENNIFER MAIA
TICKETS GO ON SALE SOON

 
 


 
 
KANSAS CITY (February 11, 2013) – Women’s world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion Invicta Fighting Championships has partnered with Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City to deliver the promotion’s first world championship doubleheader event in history on Friday, April 5. In the main event, reigning Invicta FC Atomweight (105 pounds) Champion Jessica Penne (10-1) of Huntington Beach, Calif. will defend her crown against superstar Michelle Waterson THE KARATE HOTTIE (10-3) of Albuquerque, N.M. and, in the co-main event and first-ever Invicta FC flyweight (125 pounds) title fight, submission ace Vanessa Porto (15-5) of Sao Paulo, Brazil will square off with red-hot star Barb Honchak (7-2) of Bettendorf, Iowa.

Additionally, flyweight superstar Zoila Frausto Gurgel: (12-2) of Cincinnati, Ohio will make her Invicta FC debut against submission expert Jennifer Maia: (6-2) of Curitiba, Parana Brazil.

Tickets for Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson: go on sale soon.

“We are excited about entering a new chapter in Invicta FC history that consists of a partnership with one of the finest and most impressive entertainment venues in the country as well as our first world championship doubleheader card that is loaded with world-class women’s fight talent,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp:.

The 30-year-old Penne made history on Oct. 6 when she became the first Invicta FC atomweight champion in history after dominating and submitted previously unbeaten superstar Naho Sugiyama: with a triangle choke in the second round (2:20) of their main event showdown. The victory was Penne’s third straight.

Waterson, a 27-year-old protégé of famed trainer Greg Jackson:, will put a four-fight win streak on the line in the matchup with Penne. A black belt in American Freestyle Karate, Waterson also boasts extensive training in Muay Thai and made a name for herself as a contestant on the Muay Thai-themed reality show Fight Girls on the Oxygen television network.

In her last start, Porto, a 28-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, earned a unanimous decision victory over women’s MMA pioneer Tara LaRosa: at Invicta FC 3 on Oct. 6. Porto, who has blazed a trail to stardom in her native Brazil, is one of only two fighters to go the distance with former Strikeforce champion and executioner Cris Cyborg:, and holds notable wins over decorated, former JEWELS champion Hitomi Akano: and Germaine de Randamie:.

The 33-year-old Honchak, a protégé of former UFC competitor Steve Berger:, is in the midst of a six-fight win streak that began on Jan. 14, 2011 when she earned a unanimous decision over Felice Herrig LIL BULLDOG:. Honchak’s last two victories – a second round TKO (punches) of Bethany Marshall: on July 28, 2012 and a unanimous decision over Aisling Daly: on Oct. 6, 2012 – both came inside the Invicta FC cage.

In other action on the nine-bout main card, bantamweight (135 pounds) superstar Sarah Kaufman: (15-2) of Victoria, BC Canada will make her long-awaited Invicta FC debut against dangerous striker and Invicta FC 3 and Invicta FC 4 winner Leslie Smith THE PEACEMAKER: (5-2-1) of Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Hard-hitting KO artist Amanda Nunes LIONESS OF THE RING: (7-3) of Miami, Fla. via Salvador, Bahia Brazil will look to rebound from her Invicta FC 4 unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Sarah D’Alelio: when she squares off with fellow power striker Kaitlin Young (7-7-1) of St. Louis Park, Minn. at bantamweight.

In a featherweight (145 pounds) contest, streaking submission wizard and Invicta FC 3 and Invicta FC 4 victor Ediane Gomes: (10-2) of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. will battle hard-punching Julia Budd THE JEWEL: (4-2) of Port Moody, BC Canada.

The exciting, prolific Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc THE NIGHT QUEEN: (8-6) of Tulsa, Okla. will return to the Invicta FC cage for the third time in an atomweight matchup with Cassie Rodish: (4-3) of Des Moines, Iowa.

After accepting an opponent change and promotion to championship main event status just a week and a half before Invicta FC 4, Bec Hyatt ROWDY: (4-2) of Brisbane, Australia will drop from flyweight to strawweight (115 pounds) and look to return to the win column against undefeated sensation and Invicta FC newcomer Jasminka Cive: (5-0) of Graz, Austria.

Katja Kankaanpaa: (7-0-1) of Seinajoki, Finland will square off with fellow undefeated rising star Juliana Carnerio Lima: (5-0) of Belo Horizonte, Brazil at strawweight in what will mark both fighters’ Invicta FC debuts.

The Invicta FC five-fight preliminary card will be highlighted by a bantamweight tilt between two undefeated prospects in powerhouse Jessamyn Duke THE GUN: (2-0) of Richmond, Ky. and Muay Thai stylist Miriam Nakamoto: (1-0) of Dublin, Calif.

Alex Chambers: (4-1) of St. Ives New South Wales, Australia will meet unbeaten Jodie Esquibel: of Albuquerque, N.M. at atomweight.

Fresh off of her professional debut victory in the Invicta FC cage, top-flight prospect Rose Namajunas: (1-0) of St. Paul, Minn. will face off with fellow undefeated upstart Kathina Catron: (2-0) of Tehlequa, Okla. at strawweight.

Following her explosive first round KO and professional debut victory over Katalina Malungahu: at Invicta FC 4, recent Team Alpha Male enlistee Veronica Rothenhausler: (1-0) of Sacramento, Calif. will return to the cage against Mollie Estes: (1-1) of Kansas City.

Making her professional debut, River Jones: (0-0) of Nelson, BC Canada will meet Lauren Barefoot: (1-0) of Omaha, Neb. at bantamweight in the event’s first preliminary card bout.

About Invicta Fighting Championships:

Invicta Fighting Championships (www.invictafc.com) is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible matchups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.

About Ameristar Kansas City:

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City is owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: ASCA), and is a premier property characterized by a state-of-the-art casino floor and outstanding dining, lodging and entertainment options. The property features the largest casino and the most games in the Kansas City area, as well as one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest. Ameristar offers nine diverse dining venues — The Horizon Buffet, The Falcon Bakery, Pearl’s Oyster Bar, Great Plains Cattle Co., Amerisports Brew Pub, Casino Deli, Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Burger King and Sbarro The Italian Eatery, as well as the Star Club, a private players’ lounge. Entertainment amenities include the Star Pavilion, featuring national headliners; Depot #9, with popular regional and local acts; the Regal Cinema’s Kansas City 18 Theater; Hi-Vi video arcade; and Kids Quest, a supervised child-care facility. The property also includes a 184-room hotel. The property was awarded “Favorite Casino” for the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association’s 2012 Visitor Choice Awards. Best Casino in 2012 Ingram’s Magazine “Best of Business Awards;” in the 2003, 2005, 2007 – 2009, 2011 Kansas City Magazine’s “Best of Kansas City” readers’ poll and 2011 Best Casino in Home in the Northland Magazine’s readers’ poll. Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City also was awarded Best Steakhouse, Best Buffet, Best Live Poker and Best Tournaments in the 2012 Casino Player Magazine’s “Best of Gaming” awards.

 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 
Source:  
Invicta FC
Press relations officer: Mike Afromowitz
 
 

Andrew Whitaker named new GLORY CEO

Glory World Series-news

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 

SINGAPORE (Feb. 5, 2013) – Glory Sports International, the parent company of the world’s new premiere kickboxing league, GLORY World Series, today announced the appointment of former WWE Executive VP Andrew Whitaker to the position of global CEO of Glory Sports International.

We are excited that Andrew has agreed to assume the leadership mantel at GLORY in the pivotal role of CEO, on the front lines of our fast-growing organization,” said GLORY Sports International Chairman, co-founder, and award-winning hedge fund investor Pierre Andurand. “Andrew’s breadth of global experience in the media space is a tremendous asset to GLORY’s day-to-day business.”

Andrew joining as CEO is an important milestone in the development of GLORY as a company and kickboxing as a sport. We’ve had an incredible first year – we have over 40 of the world’s top kickboxing athletes signed to us exclusively, we’ve staged four amazing events, achieved TV distribution in 200 countries and trended No. 1 globally on Twitter on New Year’s Eve 2012 – GLORY and kickboxing are for real. As we start a new season in 2013, we have a calendar of over 10 events on 3 continents, an active global standard for athlete rankings, and we are rolling out a successful global format for kickboxing tournaments with our Grand Slams, Slams and Road to GLORY events. In addition, we are fully committed to entering the US market, and we are delighted Andrew has joined GLORY to oversee all this growth.”

Marcus Luer, co-founder of Glory Sports International, who has spearheaded GLORY’s rapid global expansion as interim-CEO over the last year since its inception, will resume the title Managing Director, allowing him to drive many of GLORY’s initiatives in Asia where he continues as CEO and founder of Asia’s leading, full-service sports marketing agency, TSA.

At the same time,” Andurand continued, “this move will free up Marcus to focus on building the GLORY brand in the territories where his experience and business relationships are greatest.”

Whitaker will be spearheading the opening of a new GLORY office in the tri-state region of the United States.

I am looking forward to taking a hands-on approach to driving the growth of what I have believed, for months, is an incredible combat sports entertainment product with tremendous global appeal,” said Whitaker, who previously served on the GLORY Sports International Board of Directors as Non-Executive Director.

Our kickboxing rules distinguish our sport by requiring elite athleticism, skill, and honor, from GLORY kickboxers, and produce some of the most exciting knockouts ever seen in combat sports. Our martial artists define the word ‘warrior,’, and our superb level of production makes our live events one of the most fan-friendly entertainment experiences in the world. GLORY has already redefined the standard for kickboxing, and has all the elements necessary to become a major player in the global sports industry,” continued Whitaker.

I look forward to working with Andrew again and continuing our successful partnership which began over 10 years ago while he was with WWE. Together, we ushered the wrestling brand into Asia,” said Luer. “GLORY is truly a global product now, which operates on a 24/7 basis with events and offices across three different continents – the U.S., Europe, and Asia.”

Prior to joining GLORY Sports International, Whitaker was the Managing Partner of Kings Highway Media, a global brand and media distribution advisory that serves sports and entertainment IP rightsholders, private equity and venture capital.

Whitaker also served as the Executive Vice President of International for NYSE-listed WWE Inc. where he was responsible for establishing and growing the leading professional wrestling entertainment company’s business via sales, marketing, promotion and public and government relations across television, digital media, live events, licensing and PPV/VOD.

Last week, GLORY debuted its new ROAD TO GLORY development fight series uniquely designed to identify and develop future kickboxing champions and other superstars in the U.S. and elsewhere, with an eight-man light heavyweight tournament (209 pounds/95 kilograms) at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Okla. On Saturday, Feb. 9, the ROAD TO GLORY series heads to Hollywood Park Casino in Los Angeles, Calif. with an eight-man middleweight (187 pounds/85 kilograms) tournament.

The next stop for GLORY’s championship series, home to the world’s greatest kickboxers, will be Excel Arena in London, England, where a stacked fight card, headlined by a heavyweight showdown between superstar Tyrone KING OF THE RING Spong (68-6-1 42 KO’s) and decorated, all-time great Remy THE FLYING GENTLEMAN Bonjasky (77-15, 40 KO’s), will take place on Saturday, March 23.

 
 
About GLORY:
The GLORY World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

 
With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

 
Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel includes a diverse mix of award-winning hedge-fund and private equity investors; principals from pioneering sports marketing agency Total Sport Asia; and senior level executives from several leading sports franchises, including WWE, FIFA, Golden Glory, Champions League and It’s Showtime.
 
 
Source:  
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series / No:37
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

ROAD TO GLORY- Dustin Jacoby – win 20.000 Dollar

Road to Glory - News

 
 
 
 
 

Dustin Jacoby pulls off miracle tournament win, after accepting entry on 48 hours notice, in first-ever ROAD TO GLORY – USA event earns $20.000 grand prize and one year GLORY WORD SERIES contract.

 

Pic 1 – Dustin Jacoby – 24 year old Dustin Jacoby (center) was awarded a $20,000 grand prize check by GLORY Ambassador Cor Hemmers (left) and retired legend Frank Shamrock (right), as well as a one-year contract with GLORY World Series, after Jacoby pulled off a miracle victory in the inaugural ROAD TO GLORY USA tournament, defeating three straight opponents by (T)KO. Jacoby had accepted a spot in the tournament just 48 hours before the event began, after one of the original tournament entrants withdrew .

Pic 2 – Jacoby and Collette – Jacoby (right) exchanged blows with Brian Collette (left) in the tournament’s championship round before stopping Collette with a late assault.

Pic 3 – Brian Collette – Collete lay on the canvas, unable to recover, after absorbing Jacoby’s best shots.

Pic 4 – Jacoby Bougton – In the semifinal stage of the tournament, Jacoby (left) hammered Roy Boughton (right)

 
 

TULSK, Oklaoma (Feb. 02, 2013) – After accepting the opportunity to fight just one day before the event, 24-year-old Dustin Jacoby (9-3) of Arenzville, Illin. rose to the occasion, defeating three consecutive opponents, all by way of (T)KO, in one night to capture the inaugural ROAD TO GLORY USA light heavyweight (209 pounds/95 kilograms) tournament championship at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa on Friday, Feb. 1.

Jacoby was called on to compete just 48 hours in advance of the event and drove to Tulsa from Arenzville, after Manuel Quezada, one of the original eight entrants, suddenly withdrew from the tournament for unknown reasons.

In the tournament’s quarterfinal stage, reigning ISKA world champion Randy Blake BOOM BOMM (25-2, 17 KOs) of Tulsa, a local superstar and favorite to win the tournament, battered the left leg of Jacoby and hammered Jacoby with punching combinations for over two rounds. In the third stanza, though, Jacoby suddenly countered with a flurry that put Blake down and forced the referee to intervene and stop the bout at the 1:43 mark of the final scheduled round.

In the semifinal stage, Jacoby faced off with Roy Boughton WRECKIN´ BALL (9-4, 8 KOs), who had defeated Daniel Brison SANDMAN (9-3, 6 KOs) by way of unanimous decision to advance past the quarterfinal stage. After eating a right hand, Jacoby responded with a series of stiff jabs that snapped Boughton’s head back.

Jacoby exploded with a knee strike to the head that sent Boughton to the canvas. Boughton beat the referee’s 10 count, but was put down for the second time with a Jacoby left hook to the body. The tournament’s “two knockdown rule” took effect, giving Jacoby the TKO victory at the 2:47 mark of the second round.

With a considerable amount of momentum behind him, Jacoby came out the aggressor in the tournament’s championship round, against previously undefeated Brian Collette (19-1, 16 KOs), who had scored a second round (:14) KO on Jeremy Freitag in the quarterfinal round of the event and a first round (1:29) TKO on Kyle Martin in the semifinal stage of the tournament.

Jacoby began connecting with a series of stiff jabs and a left hook to Collette’s body. With less than 10 seconds remaining in the opening round of action, Jacoby unloaded a barrage that put Collette on the mat face first, unable to recover. Jacoby was declared the victor of the bout by way of first round (3:00) KO.

COMPLETE ROAD TO GLORY USA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT RESULTS:

Tournament Reserve Fight:

John King def. Jason Bloom via unanimous decision – 29-28, 29-28, 30-27

Quarterfinal Round:

Roy Boughton def. Daniel Brison via unanimous decision – 30-26, 29-27, 29-27
Dustin Jacoby def. Randy Blake via TKO – Round 3 (1:43)
Kyle Martin def. Myron Dennis via unanimous decision – 28-29, 29-28, 29-28
Brian Collette def. Jeremy Freitag via KO – Round 2 (:14)

Semifinal Round:

Dustin Jacoby def. Roy Boughton via TKO – Round 1 (2:47)
Brian Collette def. Kyle Martin via TKO – Round 1 (1:29)

Championship Round:

Dustin Jacoby def. Brian Collette via KO – Round 1 (3:00)

 
About GLORY:

The Glory World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel include an unprecedented mix of accomplished entrepreneurs and senior level executives from the diverse worlds of finance, sports marketing, television and martial arts fighting.

In 2013, GLORY launched the ROAD TO GLORY tournament fight series to identify and develop new kickboxing talent in The United States, Japan and elsewhere around the globe into future champions and superstars of the sport.

 
Source:  Glory World Series  Road to Glory
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series No:37
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

Tyrone Spong vs. Remy Bonjasky

Glory 5 London - Tyrone Spong vs. Remy Bonjasky

 
 

[tminus t=“2013-03-23 18:59:59″ style=“carbonlite“ weeks=“weeks“ days=“days“ hours=“hours“ minutes=“minutes“ seconds=“seconds“ /]

23.03.2013 SATURDAY  England
ENGLAND / LONDON
 
 
Eventmaker:  Glory World Series  No.37
 
 
Eventplace:   Exhibition Centre London
[wpspoiler name=“Klick-Eventadress:“]One Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL London, England  England[mappress mapid=“29″][/wpspoiler]
Ticket
 
 


 
 
Press release:

22.03.2013  GLORY 5 London official weigh-in
20.03.2013  Miracle man Dustin Jacoby to face rising star Michael Dutt
26.02.2013  FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMP STEPHEN WAKELING…
11.01.2013  Tickets on sale for GLORY 5 London
 
 

Matchmaking GLORY 5

(updated 24.03.2013)
 

MATCH Red Corner Blue Corner STYLE
DISTANCE
WEIGHT RESULT

1

Nicola
Gallo

Italy
Italy
win

Versus
by point

Jhonata
Oliveira

Brasil
Brasil
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Lightheavyweight
Red Corner  78.0 KG  172.0 pounds
Blue Corner  79.0 KG / 174.1 pounds

2

Reece
McAllister

England
England
win

Versus
by point

Tim
Thomas

England
England
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Catchweight
Red Corner  65.8KG  145.0 pounds
Blue Corner  65.9KG / 145.2 pounds

3

Johann
Fauveau

France
France
win

Versus
by point

Pasniciuc
Constantin

Romania
Romania
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Lightweight
Red Corner  69.8KG  154.0 pounds
Blue Corner  –.-KG / –.- pounds

4

Daniel
Sam

England
England
win

Versus
by point

Jaideep
Singh

England India
England / India
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Heavyweight
Red Corner  122.0 KG  268.9 pounds
Blue Corner  109.0KG / 240.3 pounds

5

Liam
Harrison

England
England
lose

Versus
KO 1.round

Mosab
Armani

Morocco
Morocco
win

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Featherweight
Red Corner  64.2KG  141.5 pounds
Blue Corner  64.7KG / 103.5 pounds

6

Dustin
Jacoby

USA
USA
lose

Versus
KO 1.reound

Michael
Duut

The Netherlands
The Netherlands
win

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Light-Heavyweight
Red Corner  93.5KG  206.1 pounds
Blue Corner  94.0KG / 207.2 pounds

7

Danyo
Ilunga

Italy
Congo
win

Versus
KO 2.round

Stephane
Superrgui

Brasil
France
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Lightheavyweight
Red Corner  95.0 KG  209.0 pounds
Blue Corner  95.0 KG / 209.0 pounds

8

Eddie
Walker

USA
USA
lose

Versus
KO 2.round

Stephen
Wakeling

England
England
win

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Middleweight
Red Corner  85.0KG  187.3 pounds
Blue Corner  84.0KG / 185.1 pounds

9

Albert
Kraus
THE HURRICAN

The Netherlands
The Netherlands
win

Versus
by point

Warren
Stevelmans
 

South Africa
South Afrika
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Lightweight
Red Corner  69.9KG  154.1 pounds
Blue Corner  69.1KG / 152.3 pounds

10

Jordan
Watson

England
England
win

Versus
by point

Steve
Moxon

Australia
Australia
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Lightweight
Red Corner  69.9KG  154.1 pounds
Blue Corner  70.5KG / 155.4 pounds

11

Tyrone
Spong
KING OF THE RING

Suriname
Suriname
win

Versus
KO 2.round

Remy
Bonjasky
THE FLYING GENTLEMAN

The Netherlands
The Netherlands
lose

GLORY rules / 3×3 minute
Heavyweight
Red Corner  102.0 KG  224.8 pounds
Blue Corner  103.5 KG / 228.1 pounds

 
 
 
 
Source:  
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series / No:37
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on 
 
 

Tickets on sale for GLORY 5 London – Tyrone Spong vs. Remy Bonjasky

Glory World Series-news

 
 

[tminus t=“2013-03-23 18:59:59″ style=“carbonlite“ weeks=“weeks“ days=“days“ hours=“hours“ minutes=“minutes“ seconds=“seconds“ /]

23.03.2013 SATURDAY  England
ENGLAND / LONDON
 
 

Tickets on sale for GLORY 5 London – Tyrone Spong vs. Remy Bonjasky

Highly-anticipated first meeting of heavyweight icons headlines GLORY’s star-studded, 11-bout UK debut with UK’s best Kickboxers on hand

 
Matchmaking
 
TICKET
 
 

Tyrone Spong vs. Remy Bonjasky

LONDON, England (Jan. 11, 2013) – Tickets, priced from £45, for the highly-anticipated GLORY 5 London: Spong vs. Bonjasky star-studded kickboxing event, taking place at ExCeL Arena on Saturday, March 23.

Headlined by a heavyweight showdown between superstars Remy Bonjasky (77-15, 40 KO’s) and Tyrone Spong (68-6-1 42 KO’s), the first-ever GLORY show in the UK brings together a host of additional icons for the most stacked kickboxing card ever to grace a British venue.

“When GLORY decided to stage a show in London, we knew we would have to put together a special card for the British capital. Fans have wanted to see a fight between Remy Bonjasky and Tyrone Spong for some time, but the two have never met in the ring – until now,” says Marcus Luer (GLORY CEO).

Bonjasky is an idol to fight fans around the world and Spong has been on a steady rise to the top – he’s a fighter that everybody is talking about right now. They are both incredible athletes with explosive power. Bonjasky’s flying knees and Spong’s hands are capable of stopping a fight in an instant. Don’t blink.”

Known as ‘The Flying Gentleman’, the 1.93 meter/6-foot-3, 108 kilogram/238 pound Bonjasky is a household name among kickboxing fans. His illustrious career has seen him win numerous top honors, including three K-1 Grand Prix championships, but this will be the first time that British fans have the opportunity to see him fight live.

One of the most athletic fighters ever to step into the ring, Bonjasky has provided some of the most enduring images of the sport with his flying knee attacks and wide range of dynamic kicks. Among his career achievements are wins over superstar rivals Badr Hari, Peter Aerts, Alistair Overeem and Jerome LeBanner.

Like Bonjasky, Spong, a native of Amsterdam who recently relocated to Boca Raton, Fla. to train with the famed ‘Blackzilians’ fight squad, is a stellar athlete. The 1.88 meter/6-foot-2, 103.5 kilogram/228 pound Spong started his career as a middleweight and has retained his speed and fluidity while gradually moving up to heavyweight.

With explosive power in his hands, nearly two-thirds of Spong’s wins have been by stoppage, including his June KO of the legendary Aerts, also a three-time winner of the old K-1 Grand Prix tournament series. Prior to moving up to heavyweight, Spong held the light-heavyweight (95 kilograms/210 pounds) title in top European organization It’s Showtime, which GLORY purchased in October 2012.

Jordan Watson (29-5-1, 14 KO’s) and Liam Harrison (67-13-2, 38 KO’s), two of the best kickboxers the UK has ever produced, will both see action on the card. Hailing from the Bad Company gym in Leeds, England, they have fought all over the world and have been among the few foreigners to find success in the fighting rings of Thailand.

Faces Harrison, Mosab Amrani “JAGUAR” (48-7-4, 14 KO’s), a Dutch-Moroccan fighter who combines ferocity with exceptional technicality, in a featherweight bout (65 kilograms/143 pounds). Amrani’s skills will provide the toughest test of Harrison’s career to date. Watson faces an equally tough test in the shape of Australia’s Steve Moxon “STONE COLD” (29-4-1, 16 KO’s), a KO machine with a sky-high finishing ratio, in a lightweight contest in other action on the star-studded, 11-bout GLORY 5 London kickboxing card, all-time great

Albert Kraus (66-16-3, 39 KO’s), winner of the first ever K-1 MAX tournament, will face the sensational Andy Ristie (43-2, 16 KO’s) in a bout that will help determine a top lightweight (70 kilograms/154 pounds) contender.

Light-heavyweight (95 kilograms/209 pounds) Bonjasky protégé Danyo Ilunga (41-4, 34 KOs) will make his UK debut against top French talent and fellow power striker Stephane Susperregui (32-4-1, 27 KOs) in a fight that is very unlikely to go the distance
 
 
About GLORY:
The GLORY World Series is the world’s premier martial arts stand-up fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

 
With television deals spanning every continent, plus a groundbreaking online video streaming system and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely-broadcast sporting organizations.

 
Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in Holland, the UK, Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Its personnel includes a diverse mix of award-winning hedge-fund and private equity investors; principals from pioneering sports marketing agency Total Sport Asia; and senior level executives from several leading sports franchises, including WWE, FIFA, Golden Glory, Champions League and It’s Showtime.
 
 
Source:  
Glory World Series
Mike Afromowitz
Website: Glory World Series / No:37
 
 
FIGHTER LEGION®   is on