Kick boxer scores win with fourth round knockout

Ray Kasprowicz/www.ultravista.com

Las Vegas resident Kevin Ross raises his arms in victory after defeating China’s Kang En for the WBC Muay Thai international super lightweight championship, Aug. 30, 2009 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

By Hepi Mita

Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 11:25 a.m.

Kevin Ross avenged his Jan. 19 loss against Kang En with a thrilling knockout victory in the main event of Sunday’s World Championship Fights: USA versus China at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The grudge between the Muay Thai boxers was obvious when Ross (10-4) shoved his Chinese opponent before the fight’s opening bell.

“I was upset about the decision when we were in China and I wanted him to know that it would be different this time,” Ross said.

The last time the combatants met, En came away with a unanimous decision victory thanks in part to a point deduction due to a miscommunication between Ross and the non-English speaking referee.

This time around neither the referee nor the judges played any part in the outcome, as Ross knocked out En (21-2) with a knee to the jaw 1 minutes, 3 seconds into the fourth round.

“When we were clinched up I kept trying for the knee to the face and it was really getting close,” Ross said. “He put his head down, I felt [my knee] clip him and I felt him buckle.”

Until the knockout, the fight could have gone either way with the combatants exchanging blows in an all out brawl.

“Last time we were moving around the ring. This time we were just standing there trading back and forth,” said Ross.

Not only did the victory win Ross the WBC super lightweight Muay Thai championship, the win also allowed the American fighters to pull out a draw, going 3-3 in matches against Chinese opponents.

Team captain Wang Hung Xiang (29-0) was pleased with the result.

“We came in three days before the fight and did not have much time to prepare, but overall we did okay,” he said through a translator.

Xiang kept his perfect record intact with an impressive TKO victory over Joe Schilling (6-2).

Every time Schilling approached the Chinese fighter, Xiang would either trip or slam the American to the canvas. The match was fought under Wulinfeng rules, which permits the use of throws and hip-tosses.

The fight came to an end 2:54 into the second round when Xiang landed a devastating leg kick to Schilling’s injured left leg.

“I was more motivated because of all the supporters who came out to see and support me.” Xiang said.