(Davenport, Iowa) Representing the “Lone Star State”, as well the North American Combative Sports Org (NACSO), five fighters made the 900 mile journey from Dallas to Davenport in search of belts from the most widely recognized and global kickboxing organization, the IKF (International Kickboxing Federation). The fighters; Doyle Gayler, Cody Smith, Wil Joseph, Cody Cook and Kornelia Numic competed in the three-day annual event which is generally used as a barometer of sorts to distinguish the finest amateur kickboxers in the Country. The result: three (3) of them return to Texas with the titles. Gayler, easily one of the most prolific if not skilled, amateurs in the Country, was the “buzz” of the tournament whatwith people constantly inquiring about him, as well as anticipating his next match in the tourny. In the final, Gayler did not disappoint. Taking on previously unbeaten Omar Ballard from Columbus, Mississippi, Gayler dropped him twice in the 1st round, and decisively KO’d him with 15 seconds remaining in the 2nd. It took medical personnel several minutes to revive Ballard, but he did recover (at least physically). Moments later, former World Champion “Mean” Mike Labree presented Gayler with his Men’s Light-Welterweight Belt as cameras clicked all over the Davenport ‘River Center’. Doyle dedicated his new Title to the memory of his late father,ÿMike “Red” Gayler. The next new champion would be Kornelia Numic in the Women’s Light Welterweight Division. Numic, who is Croatian-bornÿand US naturalized, suprised everyone with her defeat of the returning champion, Jenna Repa of St Louis (11-3-1) in the semi-final bout via split decision. In the final, Numic was more convincing and won a unanimous decision, much to the delight of her coaches, Chuck Best and Steve Goin. Kornelia then joined Gayler in the ‘Winner’s Circle’, and shot photos together and proudly displayed their new belts. Finally, the boys’ 135-140lb 16-17 year-old division came down to a battle of the Texas ‘Codys’….Cody Cook and Cody Smith, that is. After gamely defeating all others in their bracket, the two friendly cross-town rivals squared-off for a fight between two “Texas boys”. In the end, Cook was too much for Smith, and outlasted him with a unanimous decision. Cook is trained by Troy Dorsey in Mansfield, Texas. Smith is mentored by Best and Goin at Kingdom Kickboxing in Richardson.
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