Shane Alvarez reacts after winning a PXC 54 match in 2016.
RING of Fire 2, set for Saturday at Garapan Central Park, will feature 25 boxing and kickboxing matches, including co-main and main events showcasing what Saipan and Guam have to offer in combat sports.
The co-main event will be a boxing match between returning fighters Ram “Korean Blood” Lee and Jake Albert.
Last year, Lee lost to Jamaal Mresbang via unanimous decision.
For this year’s match, Lee started his fight camp in March and has been training hard and staying on a strict diet.
“The Trench Tech gym feels like home now,” said Lee who has moved down from lightweight to bantamweight. “Jake [Albert] would know…. I’ve been sparring lightweight to heavyweight all the time. Bantamweight will be so much easier.”
Lee started boxing in late 2020 and now has over three years of experience behind him.
“ROF 1 was to show the crowd who we are,” he said. “ROF 2 is the event to really entertain the crowd and give them a good fight.”
Lee also thanked Coach Cuki Alvarez of Trench Tech “for giving me an opportunity to fight in the co-main event. It was always my dream to fight representing Trench Tech. Now I have nothing to wish for.”
His opponent, Jake Albert, saw action in the main event of ROF 1 and suffered a loss via split decision against Andres “Tanapag Beach Bad Boy ” Camacho.
This year, Albert said his biggest advantage would be his speed. He has been training for about two months now, and has been boxing for about four to five years “on and off.”
“The Ring of Fire events are great! Love what Cuki is doing in Saipan,” Albert said. “He’s promoting upcoming fighters and helping people showcase their talents. This will be my second time fighting for his event. As the co-main event this is exciting. So far, I’ve had four fights so that means a lot to me.”
Albert added, “Huge shoutout to my coaches Kru Mel, Kru Snow, Kru Eric, Kru Pete, and the rest of the Guam Muay Thai teams that helped me out during fight camp. Overall, I would like to thank Kru Kevin for reaching out to me, and for letting me use his gym to continue sharpening my boxing skills and grow in this sport.”
Main event
In the main event, Trench Tech’s Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez will face Guam Muay Thai’s Isaac “Lion Heart” Crisostomo.
It has been six years since Shane Alvarez last saw action inside the cage, but he believes he’ll be ready for his opponent.
“I’ve been doing kickboxing since I started training but we always trained in all the arts,” he said. “I’ve been consistent for the past three months and working on getting back to my prime!”
He said his experience as a fighter is still his biggest advantage. “It’s been a long time since I last fought and although this is the heaviest weight I have ever competed in I’m still fast! I was very consistent before I stopped so it’s nothing new to me,” Shane Alvarez said.
As for the revival of combat sports following a long hiatus due to the pandemic, he said, “We’re finally back to having a couple of fights a year and I plan to fight as much as I can for the next few years! This is the rebirth of ‘Pikaboo’! The Ring of Fire event is, and always will be, action-packed from start to finish! It’s a straight standup fighting event and it’s called the Ring of Fire because it’s a small boxing ring with nowhere to run so once the fight starts it’s pretty much straight to the action!”
He added, “I’d like to thank Trench Tech and all my sparring partners for grinding with me on a daily basis! We have about 14 fighters from Trench Tech that will be competing! I’d also like to thank Caravan of Food restaurant for taking me in under their wing and helping me with my diet and weight loss! Their food is all healthy and super delicious! And of course, all my fans and supporters who’ve always believed in me and are excited to see me fight again!”
‘Awesome’
Crisostomo, for his part, has well over two years of kickboxing experience and has been training for the past two and a half months. When asked what his advantage is, he responded, “I would say height and maybe reach also.”
Crisostomo said he is grateful to events such as the Ring of Fire for giving fighters the opportunity to be in the spotlight. “It’s awesome that us fighters are able to bring action for people to enjoy,” he said.
Crisostomo also thanked his team and supporters. “It really means a lot. And lastly to my mom — my anchor in this world filled with uncertainty.”
Fight card
The updated fight card is as follows:
Prelim bouts (3 x 2 min rounds) 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
1. Roan De Ocampo (Ind.) vs. Jyro Cruz (TT). Boxing, Super Atomweight
2. Kody “Cage” Palacios (TT) vs. Josh “The Kold Blooded Soulja” Joson (Ind.) Boxing, Featherweight
3. Dion “Bumble Bee” Ogo (Team Dree) vs. Lorenzo Reyes (TT) Kickboxing, Flyweight
4. Teipo “Brazzy” Asep (Latte Built) vs. Nate Zhuang (TT) Kickboxing, Lightweight
5) Mateo “The Sledge Hammer” Salvalosa (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) vs. Aiden Nekaifes (TrenchTech)
Battle of the Young Guns
6) Justin Agulto (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) vs. Edwin Kim (TT) Kickboxing, Featherweight
7) Tyron “The Half Breed” Tumada (Dree Team) vs. Jun San Nicolas (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) Kickboxing, Light Heavyweight.
8) Thomas Agulto (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) vs. Jerome Reyes (TT) Kickboxing Bantamweight
9. Gable De Chavez (Guam Muay Thai) vs. BengBeng “Da Dengdeng” Palacios (TT) Kickboxing Atomweight.
10. Marnel Cornileo (Guam Muay Thai) vs. Jeff Quitugua (TT) K1
Main Card (3 x 3 min rounds)
6 p.m.-12 midnight
1) Skylee Mesa (GuamMuayThai) vs. Grachen Pintor (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) Kickboxing Atomweight
2) Nick Taisacan (MCAMMA/Primevil) vs. Phil “Prime Time” Gregorio (TT) K1 Atom weight
3) John Lloyd Dela Cruz (TT) vs. Dylan Pomdi (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) K1
4) Mark Azacron vs. Dylan Benavente (BenaventeStriking/Tha Yard Fitness) Kickboxing Heavyweight
5) Travis Kaipat (Ind.) vs. Jose Camacho (TT) Kickboxing Lightweight
6) Keith Sablan (Benavente Striking Academy/ Tha Yard Fitness) vs. “Shotgun” Mike Camacho (TT) Boxing Bantamweight
Guam vs. Saipan
7) Ethan Aflleje (Benavente Striking Academy vs. Andre “Tanapag Beach Bad Boy” Camacho (YoungBoys Inc/TrenchTech) Kickboxing Bantam weight
8) Tyrese Bokuku (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) vs. Jimmy “Crazy Ray” Polk (TT) Kickboxing
9) Josh Mesa (Guam Muay Thai) vs. Jeremiah Salvador (Extreme MMA) Kickboxing
10) Justin Palabay (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) vs. Donovan Santos (TT) Kickboxing
11) John “Bonez” Lee (Guam Muay Thai) vs. Saips They (MCAMMA/PRIMEVIL) Kickboxing Featherweight
12) Jose Mafnas (Ind. ) vs. Bonnie “HITMAN” Sagana (LatteBuilt) Boxing Middleweight
Co-main event
Jake Albert (GuamMuayThai) vs. Ram “Korean Blood” Lee (TT) Boxing
Main event
Isaac Crisostomo (GMT) vs. Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez (TT) Kickboxing
This fight card is subject to change.
