Cooktown “The Next Generation”, March 2007
The Shire Hall was bursting at the seams on Saturday night for The Next Generation fight night, and the roof nearly lifted off every time a local fighter made their way to the ring.
The first Full Boar fighter was 11-year-old Jake Stevens, fighting Cairns junior Cody Marriage.
Jake started out strong, unloading well-timed punches and strong knees, while Cody fought back hard.
Round one was clearly Jake’s, but in round two Cody came out bombing, knowing he had to win the round.
But Jake had other plans, clipping his opponent with good uppercuts, solid knees and thumping leg kicks.
Jake took home the trophy, winning in a unanimous decision.
Kehl Yeomans was next out of the Full Boar stable, taking on Harlee Avison from Hortlai Muay Thai in Mossman.
Both boys gave it their all, but Harlee landed some massive body kicks, winning the first round.
The second round continued in the same vein, with the fighters using every ounce of strength, but Harlee won again with body kicks and rib-rattling knees.
Kehl had had enough in the final round, knowing he had to knock his opponent out to score a win.
He dug deep, boxing and kneeing his way through Harlee’s defense and won the round, but it wasn’t enough to give him the fight, which went to the Mossman fighter.
First-timer Clayton Cook, 16, was the next Full Boar warrior, matched against Jacob George from Fist-a-Cuffs in Brisbane.
Both boys looked good in round one, with Clayton’s lightning hands winning him the round.
In the second round he continued the trend, looking very relaxed and in control.
Although Jacob put up a brave fight, Clayton shone through and won every round, taking the fight in a unanimous decision.
The much-anticipated female fight of the night, between Full Boar’s Courtney Bird and First Strike Cairns’ Jess Pranklin began with a bang.
Bird charged in like a wounded bull, unleashing rattling punches to Pranklin’s jaw, and continued throughout the fight, putting two standing eight counts on her opponent, flinging her hair out of its tie and blooding her nose.
The crowd chanted the Full Boar novice’s name as she held up her winner’s trophy, taken from three-fight veteran Pranklin.
Dave “the bomber” Roberts was the second last fighter of the night, re-matching Michael Orec, a seasoned campaigner with more than 60 fights under his belt and the First Strike Cairns trainer.
Knowing each others’ skills, both fighters were cautious, with Orec dropping Roberts with a snapping head kick.
Not fazed, Roberts rose to his feet, only to cop a spinning side kick to a wounded rib he had been nursing for a fortnight.
The Full Boar fighter was unable to continue, giving the fight to his opponent by technical knockout.
The night’s main event was a battle of the boys, with Full Boar’s Joel Mitchell, 12, taking on Renshinkan Ingham’s Cameron Coppo, 14.
Cameron used his long arms and boxing skills to his advantage, winning the first round, but round two was much closer.
In the third round Joel found his reach, scoring some strong knees and leg kicks, winning the round.
The fourth and final round was tough, with both boys wanting the winner’s cup.
Joel knew he had to stay away from Cameron’s shattering punches, which he did, working knees and winning the round.
The very close fight was awarded on points to an emotional Joel, who took home the $400 prize money and the main event cup.
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