Fight fans were out in full force Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Stampede Showdown 2 in Camp Verde at a local car dealership looking to watch their favorite boxer or muay Thai fighter get a win.
“Look at how many people are here; there’s over 300 chairs and they are full and there’s another 50 to 70 people standing outside watching,” Golden Cobra Center of Fitness owner Richard Williams said.
The Golden Cobra Center of Fitness had several fighters going for the win Saturday, including Shawn Rojas at 170 pounds and brother Anthony Rojas at 189 pounds.
Shawn Rojas, who is 19 years old, lost his boxing match to Nick Andrano of Impact Center in Flagstaff by judges’ decision.
Anthony Rojas, the older of the two brothers at 22, was able to get a victory in the first fight of his career, defeating James Currin-Hubbard from Wolf Pack Gym in Indio, Calif.
“This felt awesome,” Anthony Rojas said while his crew unwrapped the tape from his hands. “I put my heart into it, and this is why I love the sport. I started training a few months ago and I’m happy to win my first fight.”
Other top fights from the Verde Valley included 14-year-old Saxon Vaughan, representing Golden Cobra out of Cottonwood. Vaughan, at 110 pounds, defeated Rosario Real from Hard Knocks Gym in Phoenix by judges’ decision.
At first, the fight was ruled a split decision, but after a recount, Vaughan was declared the winner.
In the main event Saturday, 29-year-old Cecil Tudor was able to win the light heavyweight U.S. Muay Thai title from Fank Bamford.
Tudor is from Glendale but is a part of the Golden Cobra clan, according to Williams.
“It was an awesome fight and the fans loved it. Cecil [Tudor] works out down in Glendale at the Blue Collar Gym, but he’s a part of us too,” Williams said.
The only disappointing match of the night for fans was the fourth bout, because there was no fight. Golden Cobra muay Thai fighter Mike Newhall, a 19-year-old Cottonwood resident, was unable to fight Saturday for reasons not released to the press.
Newhall was scheduled to fight Mike Brown of Champs Gym in Phoenix. Brown was declared the winner by default.
