USKBA Full Contact Champion MARVIN PERRY continued his rise through the ranks of sportfighting by beating VLADIMIR MRINSKY in Muay Thai. It took 51 seconds for Perry to KO Mrinsky to win the USKBA Muay Thai Heavyweight U.S. Championship Title. At the same time Mrinsky threw a kick to Perry's legs, Perry unleashed a blinding right hook that caught Mrinsky square on the chin. The punch was so quick, many spectators thought Mrinsky went down due to a problem with his leg when he threw the kick. The problem wasn't his leg... it was Perry's punch. Mrinsky remained on the canvas for two minutes while he was attended by Vladimir Borodine.

Perry, from Boston San Shou and known as a San Shou fighter, most recently won a USKBA Full Contact Super Cruiserweight Northeast Championship Title when he beat the previous champion Ruben "Legs of Stone" Colon. Prior to that, Perry won the USKBA Full Contact Super Cruiserweight New England Championship Title. The versatile Perry is an accomplished sportfighter having competed in Full Contact Kickboxing, San Shou and Muay Thai. Perry has set his sights on a USKBA World Championship Title bout.

The Perry/Mrinsky bout was the Main Event for USKBA Promoter NYKK's "NEW YORK SHOWDOWN 5" held on September 8, 2001 at the Norman Thomas Auditorium in the heart of New York City. This event featured San Shou, Muay Thai and Full Contact Kickboxing bouts. While David Ross handled the matchmaking duties and coordinated the bouts, Steve Ventura coordinated the show and served as announcer (see photo at left). Making a special appearance was world renowned Grand Master Aaron Banks, the originator of The Oriental World of Self Defense (see photo at right...pictured with Fred Coritone on left). The USKBA Representatives were Bruce and Lucinda Marshall. The USKBA Referees were Donnie Carolei and Fred Coritone. The judges were USKBA World Champions Tommy "Bee" Bottone and Keith "Youngblood" Youngs and Luigi Olcese. The event benefited St. Jude's Children's Hospital and opened with a tribute to the memory of USKBA Amateur World Champion the late "Bad" CHAD DiSTEFANO. DiStefano, a student of Tommy "Bee" Bottone, passed away last week. DiStefano had appeared on many USKBA Sanctioned events including USKBA Promoter NYKK's "NEW YORK SHOWDOWN SERIES."

One of the Featured Bouts had PETER "F-16" KALJEVIC and REZA ABASSI fighting a five round San Shou non-title bout. Kaljevic started slow. Abassi tried to get to Kaljevic early. After four rounds, all three judges scored the fight even. The fifth and final round would determine the winner. All three judges scored the final round the same way. They had felt that the winner of that round, and the fight, was Kaljevic by unanimous decision...48-47, 48-47 and 48-47.

Another Featured Bout saw STEVEN BERKOLAYKO going against JIMMY HATTORI in a five round non-title Muay Thai bout. Berkolayko came out strong. His kicks were effective. His punches landed on their mark. The first round went to Berkolayko on all three judges scorecards. In the second round, Berkolayko continued his attack. Prior to the end of the round, Hattori staggered around the ring from the punishment administered by Berkolayko. Referee Coritone separated the fighters. Hattori's corner threw in the towel. The winner by TKO at 1:54 of Round Two...Berkolayko.

In other bouts
Muay Thai (3 rounds)
RICHARD ACOSTA (NYKK) def VITALY MANCHUR by unanimous decision.
Full Contact Kickboxing (3 rounds)
DANNY MORALES def OWEN FARRELL by unanimous decision.
San Shou (3 rounds)
JULIO TRUJILLO def JEFF RUTH by split decision.
San Shou (3 rounds)
NARDU DEBRAH def MICHAEL NORMAN by split decision.
Muay Thai (3 rounds)
ANTHONY TALBERT and ALEXIS RUBALLO fought an exhibition.
Full Contact Kickboxing (3 rounds)
ANGEL VALERIO and RAMON NIEVES fought an exhibition.
Full Contact Kickboxing (3 rounds)
CHRISSY YANDOLLI ans JENNIFER fought an exhibition.
San Shou (3 rounds)
AYMAN MOHAMMAD (NYKK) and LENNOX CHANCE fought an exhibition.

A professional quality video tape of the event is available. For ordering information you can email or call (212) 242-2453

For information on future USKBA Promoter NYKK events, call 212-242-2453 or visit their website at www.nykk.org.