ISKA/IKF World title fight

12 rd WORLD TITLE FIGHT

San Jose California November 12 th 2004

Schwartz Faces Bottone
In World Title Unification Bout
Schwartz Faces Bottone For IKF/ISKA World Kickboxing Titles November 12th
By Mike Afromowitz - muaythaimes@aol.com

Undefeated and number 2 ranked Super Middleweight (172-pound limit) kickboxing superstar Brian Schwartz (Left, *16-0, 9 KO/TKO's) and four-time world champion and number 2 ranked Middleweight Tommy " Bee" Bottone (Right, *41-4, 19 KO/TKO's) will square off with one another to unify the vacant International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) and International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) full-contact rules, Super Middleweight titles during a 12-round fight at San Jose, California's Civic Auditorium on Friday, November 12th. The matchup will be contested as the main event during a 14-bout "Strikeforce Kickboxing" card hosted by promoter Clay Brasuel.

At 30 years of age, Schwartz has emerged as one of the brightest competitors in professional kickboxing's full-contact genre, the rules of which permit kicks above the waistline as well as punches, including spinning backfists. The 6 foot 3 inch, San Mateo, California resident began his martial arts training at the young age of six when he took up the Japanese-rooted discipline of Taekwondo under the direction of trainers Chris Jensen and Debbie Pedersen. During his teenage years, he added former boxing and kickboxing champion, Eddie Croft, to his team in order to strengthen his western boxing skills. Schwartz, who has made five successful starts during Las Vegas, Nevada K-1 fight cards, was last seen in action during a March 12th Strikeforce Kickboxing card when he stopped fellow contender Shannon Ritch with a ferocious side kick in the opening round of action.

Bottone of Long Island, New York has carved out a dominant position in the sport of kickboxing during his outstanding, decade long professional career. His last world title defense came on September 21, 2001, when he gained a split decision win over veteran rival, Tony "TNT" Ventura in New York City. Bottone made his last start on September 11th of this year when he took part in a four-man, single-elimination tournament on Long Island, New York. After stopping his first opponent inside of two rounds, he fought Peter "F16" Keljavic to a draw during the championship round of action.

Tickets for the November 12th Strikeforce Kickboxing event are priced at $30, $50, and $100, respectively, and are available for purchase online at www.tickets.com. The event's preliminary bouts will begin at 5:30 PM Pacific Standard Time and the featured bouts will commence at 7 PM.

Strikeforce Kickboxing is a Bay Area, California-based martial arts fight promotion that hosts bouts contested under a variety of martial arts fighting rules including K-1, Full-Contact, Muay Thai, and San Shou. Launched in 1990, the distinguished organization has since promoted nearly every major kickboxing champion and contender and, in doing so, has played host to some of the most memorable matchups in the sport's history. Strikeforce fights have aired consistently on ESPN since 1994.

More info : www.isksa.com www.ikfkickboxing.com www.k-1usa.net