Press Release – April 11, 2013 (Milwaukee, WI, USA) Few names are as synonymous with professional Kickboxing than Milwaukeean Duke Roufus. As well, even fewer Americans are as well-versed in the Thai art of kickboxing, or Muay Thai, as Duke Roufus.
So it came as no surprise when representatives of international kickboxing promotions powerhouse Glory Sports International contacted Duke in early 2013 looking for his assistance in helping Glory establish itself in the United States.
What was surprising, however, was the fact that one of the cities targeted in Glory’s plans was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and they wanted Duke to promote their ROAD TO GLORY 8-Man Kickboxing tournament in his hometown.
It was Glory’s understanding that Milwaukee was regarded as a true hotbed for combat sports in the U.S., and Duke Roufus was the main driving force behind that image.
With lifelong international connections bringing the parties together, Duke was humbled at the opportunity to work with such a prestigious organization, and even more humbled at the fact they wanted to bring their exciting brand of stand-up fighting to southeastern Wisconsin.
After months of planning and coordination between Milwaukee-based North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) and Glory executives, Duke Roufus is pleased to announce professional Muay Thai and Kickboxing will return to Milwaukee’s historic Eagles Club Grand Ballroom, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Saturday, May 11, 2013. CONCEDE, Speedy Metals and Roufusport present NAFC “Knockout Kings” ROAD TO GLORY USA. Doors open and the undercard starts at 5:00 pm, while the main card begins at 7:30 pm.
This highly-anticipated show returns Duke to his roots of combat sports, the smash-mouth stand-up game of professional Muay Thai and kickboxing, where the lifelong martial artist is a former 4-Time World Heavyweight Champion.
Showcasing some of the best fighters from across Wisconsin and the Midwest, PLUS top fighters flying in from across North America for the ROAD TO GLORY USA 8-man Lightweight tournament (with a top prize of $20,000.00 going to the winner), makes this one of the most unique ring sports events ever produced in Milwaukee.
ROAD TO GLORY USA is kicking off it’s promotions with six events in America over the first five months of 2013, including the May 11th show in Milwaukee’s Eagles Club.
In addition to top regional talent battling each other in prestige bouts, each ROAD TO GLORY USA event will consist of a one-night, single-elimination, 8-man tournament in one of Glory’s six weight divisions. ROAD TO GLORY Milwaukee will showcase the country’s top Lightweight (-155 lbs) Kickboxers who will be awarded a total purse of $42,000.00.
The Milwaukee ROAD TO GLORY USA tournament champion will advance to the next level of the global tournament and be offered a one-year contract to fight for Glory internationally.
Highlights of ROAD TO GLORY USA, operated by GSI (Glory Sports International), will be distributed to over 90 countries by GSI’s media partner Total Sport Asia (http://www.totalsportsasia.com/
).
The Glory World Series (www.gloryworldseries.com
) is the world’s premier kickboxing fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000.00 in prize money to the winners of 16-man ‘Grand Prix’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes eight-man tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.
Advance priced tickets can be purchased online at http://nafc.tv/kokingsticketing.php
, The Rave Eagles Club Box Office, by calling 414-967-7767 or from any fighter appearing on the card. Regular priced tickets will also be available at the door.
VIP Front Row $100.00 ($110.00 door), Reserved VIP Ringside, VIP Balcony and VIP Stage $60.00 ($70.00 door) and General Admission $35.00 ($40.00 door).
A complete bout lineup will be announced shortly. Featured prestige bouts showcasing high-end North American talent have already been announced, including:
Muay Thai Lightweight -155
Landon Simmons (Cooper’s Gym-Detroit, MI) Mike vs Tom Grimmer (Roufusport-Milwaukee, WI)
Muay Thai Middleweight -185
“Bam Bam” Bryce Franck (Roufusport-Rockford, IL) vs Tim “The Arch Angel” Nixon (Team No Quit-Manistique, MI)
Kickboxing Super Heavyweight +230
Reese Shaner (Waukesha MMA-Waukesha, WI) vs Demian Decorah (Chosen Few-Madison, WI)
Muay Thai Bantamweight -135
Josh Kasee (Oneida Boxing Club-Oneida, WI) vs Boontieng Phetvixay (Yamatah Muay Tai-Milwaukee, WI)
Kickboxing Lightweight -155
Benni Izairi (Yamatah Muay Thai-Milwaukee, WI) vs Dwight Anderson (Gracie Barra-Kenosha, WI)
Muay Thai Lightweight -155
Gustavo “Sidewayzzz” Rodriguez (De La Rosa Submission Wrestling-Rockford, IL) vs Jon Henderson (Canadian Fighting Center-Winniepg, Manitoba, Canada)
If you like your entertainment non-stop, action packed and in your face, then you’ll want to make sure you’re seated ringside Saturday, May 11th at NAFC “Knockout Kings” ROAD TO GLORY USA.
Join fighters and fans afterward at the “Knockout Kings” Post Fight Party at Brewski’s Sports Club, 304 N 76th St, Milwaukee. Remember to take the shuttle to and from the fights from Brewski’s, located directly across the street from Roufusport MMA Academy.
NAFC “Knockout Kings” ROAD TO GLORY is presented by CONCEDE, Speedy Metals and Roufusport MMA Academy and is sponsored by Brewski’s Sports Club, Combat Corner, Curtis Ambulance, Elevation Training Mask,ExpressMilwaukee.com
, FM 102.1, Grit Mouthguards, On The Border, Shepherd Express, UWM Army ROTC, WCGV My24 Milwaukee, WSSP Sports Radio 1250 AM, WI Athletic Club and Workout Boss.
For more information, visit http://NAFC.tv
or call (414) 967-7767.
About NAFC
North American Fighting Championship is operated by famed fight trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner and producer Scott Joffe. Roufus is one of the most recognizable Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. Roufus also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Alan Belcher, Erik “New Breed” Koch, Pascal “Panzer” Krauss, Chico “King” Camus and Bellator World Welterweight Champion and US Olympic Wrestler Ben Askren.
In addition to producing Muay Thai and Kickboxing events, NAFC creates and produces MMA events that feature combatants who have fought in the UFC and other top level organizations, as they take on local fighters looking to make it to the next level. Current and former UFC fighters who have fought on past NAFC and Gladiators Fighting shows (the NAFC’s predecessor) include current the UFC’s Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Chico Camus, former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, Tim Boetsch, “Danny Boy” Downes, Ben Rothwell, Pat Barry, Jesse Lennox, Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski, Jason “Dynamite” Dent, Rex Holman, Joe Doerksen, Dan Bobish, Ryan “The Lion” Madigan, Josh “Heavy” Hendricks and Sherman “The Tank” Perdergarst.