The Cellar Gym brought a team of five adult and five junior kickboxers to the WAKO National Championships on the weekend of February 27th through March 2nd. Muay Thai fighter Eliot Woods also competed in the Warrior’s Cup tournament as part of the same event, with both tournaments taking place at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. In total, the Cellar team ended up with 7 wins, 8 losses, and 5 gold medals.
Continue reading for a recap of each fighter’s journey through the weekend.
Javier Huerta
In his first fight of the weekend, Javier won a hard-fought split decision against a Team USA teammate. The two fought side by side at the 2023 World Championships in Portugal and had to face each other to re-earn their spots on the team. The pace was insane, both fighters pushed each other to the limit, and Javier was able to secure the win.
Javi put on a masterclass in the finals, executing the perfect game plan against another tough Team USA opponent. He controlled the range and space, shutting down his opponent’s attacks with sharp teeps and movement. His boxing combos, teeps, and low kicks were on point from start to finish. With this win, Javi earned gold and his spot back on Team USA, and will be heading to Abu Dhabi for the World Championships this fall. Huge performance and well deserved.
Liam Doo
Liam secured a unanimous decision victory in the finals with a perfectly executed game plan. He controlled the fight with sharp range management, smooth movement, and slick head movement, setting up his attacks while shutting down his opponent’s offense. He outscored each round and left no doubt. A strong performance and a well-earned win.
Sam Bailey
Sam Bailey won in the finals by TKO! Sam secured the victory after the three-knockdown rule, putting on a dominant performance from start to finish. He controlled the fight, imposed his game, and never let up. Next stop: World Championships in Abu Dhabi this fall.
Ava Kehrer
Ava secured a dominant unanimous decision win in the finals. She showcased great movement and angles, setting up her attacks with precision and landing beautifully placed, powerful low kicks. A smart, technical performance from start to finish.
Chris Cichon
We were all beyond thrilled to witness former head coach Chris “Dead On” Cichon’s return to competition! Chris decided to take a light contact kickboxing match on short notice against an experienced WAKO USA official; he was able to outscore his opponent over two rounds to secure the gold. It was such a joy for us to see Chris make his return to the mats, and our whole team stood by to support. Congratulations, Coach Chris!
Johnny Lee
Johnny took a dominant unanimous decision in the semifinals. He had so much fun in the ring, smiling the entire fight while staying ahead on points. His strong punches set up some sweet double kicks that kept his opponent on the back foot. Johnny lost his fight in the finals against a tough, game opponent who challenged him at every step. Despite the outcome, he never backed down and fought hard until the final bell. Proud of Johnny and excited to see what’s next.
Eliot Woods
Eliot won big in the semifinals of the Warrior’s Cup Muay Thai tournament. He came out relentless, overwhelming his opponent with nonstop knees to earn a TKO finish. Barely an hour later, he faced an equally skilled opponent in a super close fight for the championship. Eliot brought the pressure, walked his opponent down the entire fight, and stayed in his face from start to finish. His opponent edged it out with a little more volume, but we want to see it happen again.
Beyond his own fights, Eliot was the definition of a team player all weekend. He spent the day with his teammates, helped them cut weight, and then stepped into the ring himself. We’re proud of the way he fought and even prouder of the way he showed up for his team. The work continues.
Athena Men
Athena lost a decision in the finals. She may not have gotten the decision, but the progress she showed was undeniable. The difference between her last fight and this one was night and day—she was confident, composed, used great movement, and kept fighting every step of the way. So proud!
Eh Kuh Htoo
Eh Kuh battled a seasoned opponent with great boxing and lost a close split decision in the semifinals. He came out firing in the third round, landing some beautiful cut kicks that dropped his opponent, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the nod. Still, an incredible performance.
Andrew Greene
Dru put on a technical display in the semifinals and was ahead on points going into the third. His opponent turned up the pressure, and Andrew lost a close split decision. His combinations and range control were impressive —this one could have gone either way.
Jozi Rydeen
Jozi lost via ref stoppage in the finals after taking a hard liver kick, but this fight was a big step up in competition. She faced a Team USA veteran with five times her experience and didn’t back down. She fought hard, showed heart, and gained valuable experience in the ring. We’re proud of her and know she’ll come back stronger.
Anteze Howard
Anteze Howard lost a unanimous decision, but this fight showed big growth from his last couple of performances. The work he’s putting in is paying off, and we know he’ll come back even stronger next time. Good work Anteze, we are proud of your progress!
What an incredible few days for our team! It was a weekend full of team bonding, growth, and proving what we’re made of.
None of this happens without the incredible support system behind our fighters. Thank you to the parents who commit their time and resources to provide these opportunities. Thank you to The Cellar Gym members and coaches for all the work they put in to prepare our fighters for moments like these. And a huge thank you to WAKO USA and Warrior’s Cup for putting on another great event.
Win or lose, this team continues to impress. We train hard, fight like heck, and—most importantly—show up for each other every step of the way. Couldn’t ask for a better squad. The work continues.
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