FIGHT TEAM OF SIX AIM TO TAKE OVER PXC 49

By Robert Balajadia

Six fighters that will enter PXC 49 on Friday August 7th will be fighting out of the same training camp under Guahan Top Team and Guam Muay Thai Ekyotin.

Main card fighters in Trevin and brother Tyrone Jones, McKlane Alfred, Jarome Cruz, Eric Gatmen, and amateur card fighter Mike Puccini will take center stage next Friday.

The most experienced PXC fighter would be Trevin ‘5 Star’ Jones (5-4), who is coming off a split decision loss to Kwon Ho Kwok in PXC 47. Jones isn’t about to add another loss to his record anytime soon and wants to get through his PXC 49 opponent Mark Abelardo to eventually get a shot at the belt from current bantamweight champion Kyle Aguon.

“I want [Aguon] and I’m planning on getting this win and nothing is going to stop me because I can’t go on two straight losses. The only losses that me and my brother have had are to the champions so we’re ready. This is going to be a big fight for our whole team,” said ‘5 Star’.

On the other side of the family gloves, Tyrone ‘Bones’ Jones (4-4) is coming off one of his most successful wins with a TKO finish over Peter Cepeda also in PXC 47. Jones feels he has defeated a lot of fan favorites during his PXC tenure and is still out to prove he’s worthy of being a featured fighter during the fight promotions.

The Jones brothers mixing it up during a sparring session at the Guam Muay Thai gym in Mangilao. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

“I hope this fight gets me more recognition,” explained Jones. “I’m taking everyone out who people vote for as a featured fighter, but I understand you have to work your way up and I’ll show everyone soon enough that I belong on the top.”

Training partner Jarome Cruz (1-0) will be welcoming back Ricky Camp to the PXC after a one-year hiatus even though Cruz himself is a PXC newcomer.

Camp’s last run at the PXC ended in a split decision loss to Cruz’s teammate Trevin Jones, but Cruz is ready to make his own name in the PXC cage. “I’m going to give it everything I got and show them how much I love what I do,” said Cruz on what he’s aiming to do in his debut. “I’m getting better everyday and I’m just happy to be doing what I love to do.”

Camp and Cruz both walked away winners in April’s Rites of Passage 16 in Saipan. Camp’s most recent fight came in May as a part of PRO FC with a unanimous decision win over Emilio Urrutla.

McKlane Alfred (3-2) is also coming off a loss to Vince Masga in PXC 45 and will be looking to rebound. Alfred had a hot start in his professional PXC debut going 2-0, but has been 1-2 since. He has fought all his fights in the PXC, including his two amateur bouts. Alfred will be going up against one half of the ‘power couple’ tandem in Mike Sanchez.

Sanchez dropped his PXC debut and will have the height and reach advantage over Alfred, but Alfred loves to keep fights with little separation.

Eric Gatmen will also be making his PXC debut and will be the only fighter of the six going up against an international opponent in Koyomi Matsushima. Gatmen is currently 2-0 with one NC.

Training as a Team

The unique approach to PXC 49 has each of the six fighters in a heightened state. While it’s most obvious none of them want to lose, coming out successful as a team weighs heavy. “There’s a lot of motivation. Win or lose, we’re all motivated,” said Tyrone. “We’re hungry no matter what the outcome.”

“My teammates have been training longer than me and they have just as much experience as me. We always help each other and share knowledge with each other and everything is good right now,” said Trevin.

“We’re going to all accomplish the same thing that night because we’ve all been working real hard to get there,” added Cruz.

Eric Gatmen working the mats with trainer Kru Kevin Jalique during the sparring session. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

PXC 49 Fight Card

Frank Camacho vs Kengo Ura (155 lbs)

Trevin Jones vs Mark Abelardo (135 lbs)

Brogan Walker vs Gabby Romero (125 lbs)

Jessie Rafols vs Shane Alvarez (125 lbs)

Jarome Cruz vs Ricky Camp (135 lbs)

Mike Sanchez vs McKlane Alfred (125 lbs)

Tyrone Jones vs Takayuki Kobayashi (125 lbs)

Eric Gatmen vs Koyomi Matsushima (125 lbs)

Mike Puccini vs Frank Meno (155 lbs AMATEUR FIGHT)