In a charity event kickboxers will be ... Fighting the good fight

BILL HUTCHENS; bill.hutchens@thenewstribune.com
This Saturday, Sam "Youngblood" Poulton will take the term "fighting for a good cause" literally.

The 24-year-old Tacoman will step into a downtown ring for a muay Thai martial arts fight. On the line: not only bantamweight bragging rights but also the possibility of a brighter future for children orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

"Usually as a fighter, you’re getting the rewards just for yourself," Poulton said. "But for this event, I’m not just fighting for myself or to entertain the crowd. I’m fighting to help these kids."

It’s an opportunity he and the nearly two dozen other martial arts fighters lined up for the THUNDER: Fight for Life event might not normally get. They owe their chance to do some charity work to Marc Valdes.

"I’ve always wanted to do some type of charity event, but I haven’t had an opportunity to do one," Poulton said. "When I found out the fight night was an actual charity event, I thought it was an awesome idea."

Valdes owns and is president of Northwest Concrete Waterproofing in Tacoma. He first learned of the Acres of Love charity a few years ago at a church he and his fiancée had been attending. The couple traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, to see the "Forever Homes" the charity maintains.

Forever Homes are safe havens for African children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Often, the children in the homes have AIDS themselves. Forever Homes give them a place to stay with about a dozen other children and two house parents. The makeshift families become tightknit groups of support. Children receive food, clothing, schooling, school supplies, medical care, counseling – whatever they need to get a leg up after traumatic loss. Acres of Love also seeks for adoptive parents for the children.

"When I went to South Africa, it was a life-changing experience," Valdes said. "To see these kids in good homes and see them bounce back is just incredible."

After a tearful goodbye, he set his mind to figuring out a way to support Acres of Love.

"I couldn’t just go there and not do anything about it," Valdes said. "So I decided to start fundraising. They don’t get government support. Everything comes from private donations."

He made a commitment to try to provide the organization with $90,000 per year – the approximate cost of maintaining one Forever Home.

It just so happens that his fiancée is best friends with a "Fight Girl."

Ariana "Bling Bling" Ramirez of Puyallup co-owns Chasai Muay Thai with her husband, former muay Thai champion Alberto Ramirez. Several of Saturday’s fighters train at the gym near Narrows Plaza in University Place. Others hail from Las Vegas, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii and Canada as well as other gyms in Washington.

Ariana and Alberto began hearing all about Acres of Love and Forever Homes from their friends.

After starring on the reality-TV show "Fight Girls" and traveling to Thailand to become the women’s world champion in the sport, Ariana Ramirez left her real estate job to work full time as a charity coordinator for Valdes.

"I feel very blessed to be able to do this for the kids in Africa," Ramirez said. "We get to have fun and showcase our sport, but I’m excited to be sharing the success with people who really need some help."

All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the children in one of Acres of Love’s 14 Forever Homes.

Ramirez’ "Fight Girls" friend Lisa "Black Widow" King of Las Vegas will be on hand to help announce the fights, as will Ben Garcia, another reality-show veteran from Las Vegas. Garcia used to train with Alberto Ramirez under the "Master Toddy," the Las Vegas muay Thai expert who also trained the "Fight Girls" fighters. Garcia was featured on MTV’s "True Life: I’m a Muay Thai Fighter" and is also known as DJ Obi-One, one of Vegas’ top DJs. He’ll be a guest spinner at The Loft after-party on Saturday night.

Doors open for the fight event at 4:30 p.m., and the show starts at 6 p.m. There will be a short video and music presentation about Acres of Love before the first bout, and the founders of the charity are slated to attend.

The evening will include 10 to twelve fights. Some will feature the muay Thai fighting style in which fighters battle with their feet, knees, elbows and gloved hands. Others bouts will be kickboxing matches, and still others will feature mixed martial arts, or "MMA," fighting.

Bill Hutchens: 253-597-8460

blogs.thenewstribune.com/gamers

What: THUNDER: Fight for Life!

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center

Tickets: $25 general admission, $50 reserved and $75-$150 for various levels of VIP seating at 253-537-3723 or www.purpose-events.com

Charity info: www.acresoflove.org
3:22 PM
1 Comment
2 Kudos
Translate
TheNewsTribune.com
Section: SoundLife