One-Armed Bandit Takes WBC Title at Hollywood Park

One-Armed Bandit Takes WBC Title at Hollywood Park
REPORT BY JOSE LOPEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMIL LAZAR

World Championship Kickboxing held the World Muay Thai Championships at the Hollywood Park Casino on May 29. The ten- bout fight card featured five title fights, including the WBC United States Super Welter Weight title match between Harris Norwood and Baxter Humby, a one-armed fighter.

“Baxter doesn’t back down from anything,” said Dennis Warner, WCK fight promoter during a break throughout the night. “He’s being called out by many opponents.”

The main event of the evening had “The One-Armed Bandit” Humby (36-6), who trains out of the Muay Thai Academy in California, face Norwood (27-9-1), out of Xtreme Sports in Atlanta, Georgia. Humby has an awkward fight style that kept Norwood at bay. He also has a strong stance, appearing like an immovable object in front of his opponent. Norwood attempted to bring the fight to Humby, who easily deflected his kicks. The best Norwood could do was try to clinch his opponent. Despite only having one arm, Humby also had a strong clinch and knocked his opponent down several times during the five-round fight.

“The only limits you have are the limits you place on yourself,” said Humby after the fight. “Look at me, I am the WBC champion, and I only have one hand.”

In an unbelievable five-round fight “The One-armed Bandit” frustrated his opponent and controlled the match to win the WBC Muay Thai USA Super Welter Weight title by a unanimous decision.

“Hurricane” Shane Oblonsky (2-1) of the Piston Gym, faced Joey Pagliuso (1-1), out of U.S. Karate Organization, for the IKKC California Welter Weight title. Pagliuso began the fight with patience, landing the majority of his kicks, including taking his opponent down. In the second round Pagliuso continued using his age and experience patiently, controlling most of the round with his punches and kicks. But Oblonsky would clinch and land several knees to end the round. The fight ended in the third round, when Oblonsky forced Pagliuso into the ropes. Pagliuso bounced off the ropes to receive Oblonsky’s overhand right to the jaw, sending him to the ground. Oblonsky wins the title by a knockout 36 seconds into round three.

“I had him hurt with some knees and I saw him drop his left hand and caught him with my overhand right,” said Oblonsky at the conclusion of his fight with Pagliuso. “That’s usually the punch I knock people out with.”

The final title fight of the night was for the IAMTF United States Welter Weight title. Artem “The Russian Experiment” Sharoshkin (8-3-1), based out of the Boxing Club in San Diego, fought Ozzy Venegas (5-1), based out of Sit Yod Tong Muay Thai. The fight was full of spirit with both competitors coming at each other with full force. Sharoshkin began with hard strikes to Venegas’ face. As Venegas answered with the clinch, he moved to keep a distance with low thigh kicks slowing his opponent down. Sharoshkin ruthlessly chopped away at Venegas’ left leg.

“It was more frustrating than I thought,” said Sharoshkin after the fight. “Ozzy knew that fighting with me at a distance was a bad idea so he decided to clinch me a lot. I decided to let the referee break us up and then go back to the distance fighting. I threw a lot of kicks since I heard he doesn’t like to block the kicks, and with that try to slow him down a bit.”

His patience paid off as Sharoshkin takes the IAMTF United States Welter Weight title by unanimous decision.

Other Results Round-Up

The night featured several non-title fights, beginning with Beto Rodriguez (6-4-1), taking on Prudencio Portillo (3-4). Rodriguez had a slight height advantaged and used it well constantly throwing kicks. Portillo opted for his punches, but Rodriguez would clinch and use knees to control the match. The judges awarded Rodriguez the match with a split decision.

The crowd was more alive for the fight that featured Tigran Matrosian (3-0) of ISU Hollywood, who entered the ring with rapper Young Life. Matrosian took on Arte Panghongkeow (2-0-1) of the Muay Thai Academy. The fight was action packed, with Matrosian lighting the crowd with his constant spinning kick to the head combination. Matrosian wins by unanimous decision.

Lake Elsinore native Scott Vernick (3-1) of Bob Cheney’s Muay Thai, entered the ring with a huge height advantage, towering over his opponent, Carlos Otiano (2-1), of the Piston Gym. Vernick began with a jab-cross combination. With his reach advantage everything landed on Otiano’s face. Otiano however, never backed down, landing several shots of his own. After three rounds the fight went to Vernick by unanimous decision.

Robert Zatarain (4-0) of Salas Fighter’s Association, took on Jonathan Puu (3-0) of Muay Thai School USA. Zatarain is a very intense fighter who overwhelmed Puu with his punches. He scored a takedown in the first round and backed Puu into the ropes with a barrage of punches to end the round. Zatarain showed no signs of fatigue as he entered the second round with more power punches, forcing Puu to grab him in clinch for protection. After the break from the referee, Zatarain landed a hard left to down his opponent. The ringside doctor stepped in to stop the fight after Puu struggled to get to his feet. Zatarain wins by knockout.

Dave Nielsen (10-1) of American Boxing San Diego, defended his IAMTF California Cruiser Weight title against Jason Rzepka (10-11-1) of The Wrench Gym. Both men came in looking to take the other down quickly. However, the champ kept his cool and controlled the better part of the fight. Nielsen connected several shots that put Rzepka on the floor at the end of the first round. The second round saw Rzepka taking a bit of an advantage, taking Nielsen down twice. The second with a counterpunch that sent the champ to the ground in the final seconds of the round. The fight ended quickly in the third round. Nielsen connected a right hook to the jaw, 13-seconds into the round. Rzepka would not get up, giving Nielsen the win by knockout.

Chris Minor (12-5) of Mohawk Muay Thai defeated Soroyan Corona (5-2) of Muay Thai USA by split decision.

The final fight was for Rob Wendiger (2-0) of Team Oyama in Irvine, who won a unanimous decision over Steve Kuo (3-0) of The Yard Downtown LA. Kuo delighted the crowd with a pair of handstand wheel kicks.