Training in Las Vegas was great. Even though I ended up staying a bit longer than I intended I’m glad I did because it paid off well. I mainly trained out of One Kick Nick’s gym www.onekickgym.com where I had a whole stable of sparring partners with different fighting styles who were also training for upcoming competitions

There was Dewey Cooper www.blackkobra.com, Tony Valante who fought on the K-1 Max show a few days before my fight, Phil “The New York Bad Ass” Baroni www.nybadass.com (a UFC fighter) and Julio Garcia {I was training with him when he was getting ready to fight Masato on a K-1 Max show in Japan, unfortunately he did not continue training and had to go back to Cuba due to his mother’s illness}.

I thank everyone who worked with me at the gym such as Alfie Alcarez , David Smith and everyone else, but most of all Master Nick Blomgren for his hospitality.

While I was in Vegas I got to meet with many people in the sport of fighting in general. We (Rick and I ) went over to the Nevanda Partners Community Center at least twice a week to get boxing sparring from Richard Steele’s Gym located within the Community Center (Richard Steele is a retired world class referee/judge who has begun promoting boxing fights in Las Vegas) www.steeleboxing.com , this was one of the gyms that William Abelyan trains at http://boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=033459, unfortunately I wasn’t able to meet him due to my busy schedule.

Rick and I also went to John Lewis’s Gym (a retired UFC fighter), Fairtex Gym located in Gold’s Gym (what a concept!), Master Toddy’s Gym and the private UFC gym located in same building of the head office, that is where I met with the president of UFC, Dana White, Chuck Lidell, Cabbage and Tim Silva. Rick and I watched along as Chuck Lidell sparred with Phil Baroni, both who had events coming up, Chuck with PRIDE www.pridefc.com and Phil with UFC 45 www.ufc.tv.

When I got back to L.A. I quickly continued my training with Rick, but also adding Kru Nokweed and Peter Cunningham. I found myself training twice a day like I had done in Thailand in June of this year. The training I did had paid off so well I ended up feeling in great shape.

Due to fact that my original opponent Josh Bendell had pulled out a week before the fight, Dennis Warner (the promoter) informed me that the only opponent he had was at a higher weight class of 147lbs against Joe Sarkissian of Victorville. I hesitated to take this fight because I am a 142 lb. fighter and that he was of Armenian descent, but due to fact that he was the only fighter left I agreed to it only if he would come down and meet me at 145 lbs. At the weigh-in the day before the event, I weighed in at 141 lbs and he weighed 145 lb

The day of the fight was really cold, especially in the arena we were in. I was the semi-main event, which was for the IKKC California State Welterweight Belt. I had originally made arrangements with Aram Farhadyan, a masseuse who specializes in athletes, to give me massages before and after the fight. When I went outside to give him the backstage pass to enter the venue, to my surprise a small crew from the Armenian Channel was there to greet me as well, that is where I did the pre-fight interview.

Soon after my incredible warm-up massage and interview I began the process of getting ready for the fight beginning with Rick O’ Kane holding the pads. Due to the fact I was up second to last, I separated my preparation strategically. To my surprise I was sharing dressing rooms with my fellow Armenian fighter Ivan who fights out of Ken Arotunian’s gym in North Hollywood, CA USA. I continued my preparation until it was my time to perform. One of my trainers, Peter Cunningham, couldn’t make it so I asked a dear friend and owner of the Van Nuys Muay Thai Academy, Kru Rex to guide me as one of my corner men. Kru Rex has been there alongside with me every training session with Nokweed so he knew what I was capable of in order to direct me during the fight.

I entered the arena as the audience cheered and even some booed.(I knew my opponent was going to have a very strong fan base with him that night). The announcer, Chris Greggory, recited the intros for both of us and so it was on along with the InDemand Pay-per-view crew hosted by commentary with Blinky Rodriguez and Phil Stone.

The first round Joe came out like an animal, he tried jumping half way across the ring with a kick to my head as I quickly blocked and defended with some punches that were deflected by him smothering me. Basically the first round was a bit sloppy due to fact he was smothering a lot and trying to land some punches and kicks while I was feeling him out and calculating his next movements. I finally started landing some shots at the end of the round as I warmed up and even noticed Joe possibly burning himself out because of his wild style, but in my opinion he had won the round given that he was the more active one even though I wasn’t hurt at all. I was told by my corner to watch out for the head butts, I had already gotten a little (unintentional) nick on my left eyebrow from his awkwardness.

The second round was very exciting as I came out strong and felt my strength increasing as the fight went on. There was a lot of holding from Joe after every strike executed which allowed me to use my knees to his midsection.(this was great because so far I have showed the audience that I have great punching ability, good combos with hands and feet and now I can show them I have knees and neck wrestling as well). Midway through the second round I had my distance down and was able to let my hands go with combos along with knees. I had Joe almost knocked out when he was luckily saved by the bell. At this point I knew it was a matter of time for a KO to occur because I was getting more relaxed as he was fatiguing. The third round was going to be the one.

We both came out in the third exchanging, when I saw his head coming in I quickly turned my head to avoid his head butt to my eye when all of the sudden we clashed. I felt hot liquid protruding from my head as referee Cecil Peoples checked Joe’s eye for any damage. I walked over to my corner hoping to wipe off the blood from the cut on top of my head so that we could continue, that is when I felt the blood wasn’t going to stop. The doctor came to the ring to check my cut and had to stop the fight because the cut was too deep. The fight was ruled a No Contest (neither of us wins or looses).

I wasn’t too happy about them stopping the fight because I was on a roll but, I like to think that there are always good points to every thing that happens. First off it was taped by pay-per-view and will be shown across the nation within 6 months for all to see that I was wining the fight. I had won the crowd after the fight because it was, as always, the most exciting fight of the night and gained more fans because of my style and personality. The Armenian Channel loved me and wanted to do a continuation of the interview along with the other fighters who are raising stars to familiarize the Armenian public … Art Simonyan, Edmund Taverdyan, William Abelyan, Karo Parisyan and some others. The only bad points were that I wasn’t awarded the IKKC belt by increasing my record by a KO win and I had to get stitches on my eye and head.

I must thank my sponsors ( www.hondaonly.net , www.percisionchiropracticenter.com , Autobahn Auto Body & Paint , Executive Limo Services ) and Hector Estrada for taking pictures at the venue. Id like to thank all my fans and those who have helped me this year and look forward to bringing some exciting performances in years to come as I strive to accomplish my goal of becoming the NEXT ARMENIAN WORLD CHAMPION.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year …………………….. 2003

   Shawn

Clinching with Mailapet @ North Hollywood Muay Thai as he trained to fight Duane Ludwig

I met Shawn in 1993 when he was 15 (I’m 10 yrs his senior) at the world renowned Jet Center. I am very fortunate to see this kid grow and become a world class kick boxer. I recall how dedicated and hungry this kid was. I also recall our first kick (only) sparring session we had at that time that left a great impression on me. Although I had the better end of it that day by being more experienced but every time a kick landed he brushed it off and came right back. I soon realized the potential he possessed. He had instincts, reflexes, heart and tenacity of a fighter.

It was not until 1996 at the House of Champions we reunited and started sparring primarily with each other under the guidance of former North American champion Ricky O’kane. We continued our sparring until 1999 where he was held back by operations on his hands and a short stint in pro boxing limited our training together. But it was due to my lack of dedication on my end, taking long breaks in between trying to balance my family, full-time job and training that drifted our sparring sessions apart. Along the way he had captured the State and West Coast titles as an amateur.

Now, as a pro Shawn is building a reputation of a K.O. artist, opponents are more aware of his power and future fights will become more technical for Shawn. His Manager/H.O.C. owner Mark Parra asked me for valuable sparring session. My ring experience comes primarily through Chinese Martial Arts tournaments - full contact continuous sparring division. Which I would best describe as kick boxing in a karate tournament format. Consist of 1 two minute match and judges in the end of regulation determines the winner based on points landed on head, body and legs (outer thighs). Basically it is a sprinters game. To win a tournament one must win 3 - 5 matches depending the number of competitors. Pure stand-up punches and kicks, no elbows and knees and no take downs as opposed to San Shou. I emulate my style to my mentor 7 time kickboxing champion Peter “Sugarfoot” Cunningham. Lateral movement, speed and a variety of kicks-front, round, hook and side. Muay Thai kicks are not my forte, although I throw them occasionally it’s not my bread and butter. While Shawn is a versatile fighter with power and deceptive speed, he could bring the fight forward or box intelligently. He slips and moves well, mixes his punches, kicks and knees well. He has excellent hands and improving Muay Thai kicks and knees. He is not much of a karate kicker and throws them sparingly.

What we try to achieve in sparring is to prepare Shawn as best as possible against a fighter who is technically sound with speed and footwork. This would enhance his footwork of being able to close the gap quickly and fire those devastating combination much quicker. Secondly learning to time a mobile target without wasting a lot of punches and kicks. And lastly trap the mobile target and keep him in the corner. This is where his focus is on during our sessions. I on the other end must learn to withstand the pressure, and learn to stand my ground and hold my own against him when cornered or trapped. With the contrast of styles it brings out the best in both worlds. I will make him fight faster, He will then make me fight stronger.

Although sparring is intense we take precautions to minimize or avoid injuries, we also try to avoid leaving the fight in the gym, instead of a pointless slugfest in sparring its best to improve on certain aspects of our game during sparring — be it footwork, closing the distance, or a simple jab. And also a time to correct bad habits and mistakes. I recall Shawn has had some off days in training but at fight night he steps it up a notch and rises to the occasion. He shines when it counts. As a true champion he is, Shawn always finds a way to win. I am glad to share this journey of his quest to be the Best as his stable mate, sparring partner and friend.

Cesar Pacol January 2004

After Training Pic 2002 (left to right - Me, Cesar Pacol, Peter Cunningham w/Brendan Pacol, Danny Steele & Bryce Papenbrook)

@ House of Champions (left to right - Ceasar Pacol, Cecil Peoples & Shawn Yacoubian)