THE Trinidad and Tobago Kickboxing Federation (TTKBF) will crown as many as eight champions in different weight classes when the 2024 National Kickboxing Championships are held on November 16 at the Eastern Regional Sporting Complex, Tacarigua.
The championships – the first in more than five years – were launched at China Palace, Ellerslie Plaza, Maraval on October 15, with the highlight being a stare-down between Rough House's Ronaldo Diaz and HIIT FITT's Joshua James that almost turned into blows.
There will be eight title bouts at the national championships, with the weight classes ranging from 130-200 pounds. There will also be an exhibition fight on the cards, with Kenneth "Iron Man" Bishop scheduled to take on the event's promoter and TTKBF hall of fame inductee Neil Fredricks.
"Having the National (Championships) after all this time is a good way to put these guys on the map for TT to know who they are," TTKBF secretary and former national boxer Prince-Lee Isidore told Newsday.
"This is a big step in the way forward because we want to eventually be able to take these national champions and put them on the world stage...It will be good to have a new national team that we can eventually send outside to represent the country and hopefully bring back medals as well."
[caption id="attachment_1114822" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Fighter Ronaldo Diaz, right, grabs the hand of his opponent Joshua James during a tense face-off at the launch of the National Kickboxing Championships on October 15, at China Palace, Ellerslie Plaza, Maraval. - Photo by Jeff K Mayers[/caption]
TTKBF president Bharrath Ramoutar said local kickboxing and "the world came to a standstill because of covid19." Now, though, Ramoutar said the local fighters are ready to show fans what they have been able to add to their repertoire.
"The TTKBF was able to attract new coaches and fighters to the sport by the time in-person training was resumed."
Ramoutar said kickboxing returned with a bang in 2022 as new gyms and talents emerged, with the TTKBF hosting an average of six cards a year.
"Over the past two years, the kickboxers have proved their mettle and through a points ranking system, the top two fighters of each division now have the chance to battle for bragging rights of being the 2024 national champion in their respective weight class."
[caption id="attachment_1114823" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Jerome Barclay, left, will fight Joshua Garcia, right, at the National Kickboxing Championships on November 16. - Photo by Jeff K Mayers[/caption]
Evolution Kickboxing, High Calibre MMA, Fierce Young Lions, Fine Light Fight Factory, HIIT FITT, Intensity City, Prodigy Fight and Fitness, Rough House Training Centre and Trini Shinobi Budo Karate Clan are among the competing gyms.
Six of the eight bouts for the national championships have already been confirmed, with two of the finalists still to be confirmed via qualifying fights in the coming week.
Among the confirmed fights, Diaz will battle James in the 168-pound cl
