A very big congratulations goes out to Cellar Kickboxing’s Peyton “The Artist” Russell who won the IKF Professional Light Heavyweight U.S. Title Friday night in Eau Claire, WI by beating Bill Jardine by split decision. Having Peyton’s fight so close with the Team USA fights in Poland has been great for training with everybody doing tons of rounds of high quality sparring. Unfortunately the overlap in fights did not allow for Chris, Justin, and Adam to be present for Peyton’s title fight. We wish Peyton a very big CONGRATULATIONS on his victory and look forward to celebrating with him when we return home.

From IKF News Page (http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/1NEWS.htm)

Russell’s Finesse Gets Him The IKF Gold

It started out almost too slow as Peyton Russell (Right) and Bill Jardine began their 10 round journey towards the vacant IKF Pro FCR Light Heavyweight USA Title bout. Although both put up 11 kicks each, none of them had any KO power as it appeared they were both just testing each others reaction and finding their distance for the battle to come. In round 2 Jardine turned it up a notch with 14 kicks to Russell’s 8. He maintained the heat in round 3 with the lead of 17 thrown kicks to Russell’s 9. However on the judges cards, neither fighter dominated the first 3-5 rounds as the scores were back and forth for each. At the half way mark after 5 rounds one judge had it 49-47 Russell, another had it 49-46 Jardine and the third judge had it 48-48.

Round 6 saw Russell turn the tide as he turned it up and out-kicked Jardine 18-9. However Jardine’s kicks seemed to have more on them, which two of the three judges thought to as they gave the round to Jardine while the third gave it to Russell. It was actually round 8 where the tide turned towards Russell. It was here that the massive weight drop by Jardine over the previous weeks took it’s tole. Russell swept round 8 and dropped Jardine in round 9 with an impressive left, right, left right combination giving Russell the round 10-8. Round 10 saw both giving their all but Russell had his strongest round throwing 20 kicks to Jardine’s 12.

In the end after 10, judge Mike Madden had it 97-93 Russell. Judges James Bardon had it 96-94 Russell while judge Bruce Smith was the odd man out with a score of 95-94 Jardine for the split decision win for Russell. Tonight was Peyton “The Artist” Russell’s night as he took home the Gold of the IKF Pro FCR Light Heavyweight USA Title.

What’s next for these two? Well for Jardine, we may see him move back up to his previous championship fight weight of Light Cruiserweight. Since current IKF Pro World Champion Mike Nevitt will be retiring his title (Due to his successful and good paying boxing career, – 16-1) soon, the World Light Cruiserweight title spot becomes open, but he will have to work his way through the mix of at least the top 5 Light Cruiserweights before that shot. Ahead of him currently are fighters such as Marlon Hunt of Suffolk, England, (17-2) who may be fighting for an IKF World title later this year at possibly a different weightclass. James Watling of Morpeth, England, (12-6-1/1) who Jardine has already fought. Kadir Kadri of West Babylon, New York, USA (14-7-1/6, AKB: 14-4-1/6) a fighter Stephen Thompson defeated in his Pro Debut or Mo Kargbo of Bournemouth, England, (21-1-4). A battle with anyone from England would be for the big title while a shot at Kadir could be for the vacant IKF Light Cruiserweight USA title.

As for the new IKF USA Champ Russell, his next goal will obviously be a shot at current IKF Light Heavyweight World Champion Frankie Tropea of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The question is, is Tapia still fighting? Word has it, he hasn’t been in the ring since winning his World title on June 25th, 2005 in Grand Portage, Minnesota, USA when he defeated IKF Canadian Champion Nick Rondinelli of London, Ontario, Canada by split decision, 112-117, 113-115 and 116-112. If Tapia is not retired, his phone may be ringing soon for the challenge. If he turns down the defense and retires, Russell will need to seek a challenger who could be a vast number of opponents.

Congratulations to the new IKF Pro FCR Light Heavyweight USA Champion Peyton “The Artist” Russell. His next challenge is sure to be just as exciting as he climbs the ladder to the IKF Pro World title. For Jardine, the decision now is what weightclass he want’s to settle in at. When he decides, we look forward to his next battle.