Local fighter makes statement with quick defeat of Anchorage fighter at AK Beatdown<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\nJoe Smith started the night off with a boxing win over Richard Jim. Smith knocked Jim down halfway through the first of three rounds and won by unanimous decision.<\/p>\n
Seth Elisoff, whose only other Beatdown appearance was in an MMA fight, beat Darrel Whisenant in a boxing match. Elisoff knocked Whisenant out with a straight right hand 14 seconds into the second round.<\/p>\n
Moa Maka won by unanimous decision over Steven Roberts in a boxing match. The larger Maka knocked Roberts down 30 seconds into the third round.<\/p>\n
Kordell Searles knocked out newcomer William Milton in a heated boxing match, securing Searles’ second AK Beatdown victory.<\/p>\n
Michael Pitaro, who entered the ring skipping to the Britney Spears classic “… Baby One More Time,” triumphed over James “The Beast” Roberts in a heavyweight boxing match.<\/p>\n
Leisholmn Jr. set for Anchorage debut<\/strong><\/p>\nMMA belt-holder Alonzo Leisholmn Jr. attended the fights, bringing the belt he earned after going undefeated in five AK Beatdown appearances. Leisholmn Jr., a 144-pound grappling specialist, was last seen at AK Beatdown knocking out Tyson Duckworth with a kick just 25 seconds into an August match.<\/p>\n
He’s set for a debut at Alaska Fighting Championships (AFC) in Anchorage on Jan. 16. Originally from Metlakatla, the 20-year-old will challenge Jason “Forget-Me-Not” Flowers in the welterweight division.<\/p>\n
AFC is seen by Southeast fighters as the next logical step toward MMA success. Leisholmn said he saw some good things in Friday’s raw fighters.<\/p>\n
Leisholmn Jr. has high hopes for his own young career, he said during a break in the action. February will be two years since his MMA debut.<\/p>\n
“The sky’s the limit. That’s the aim,” Leisholmn Jr. said.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Kevin Gullufsen is a freelance writer in Juneau. Contact him at kevingullufsen@gmail.com.<\/b><\/p>\n
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