“Sam is an awesome fighter, a good young talent.”
Tolaga Bay-based Parkes said the reason why he fought was for his supporters, whanau and “State Highway 35” — the highway that runs along the East Coast.
He was delighted to have bounced back successfully after a loss earlier this month at the Apex Muay Thai Warriors Series Auckland.
Law was a top fighter so it was good to get a win over him, Parkes said.
“It shows what we're doing in Gisborne and the whanau of ROA.”
It was an exciting night of fights, with local talent on full display as brave men and women put their bodies on the line in the spotlight of the ring.
The crowd was loud and supportive of all fighters, with the loudest support coming in the men's tag team bout, where local favourites Tawhao Stewart, Moana Nuku and BJ Sidney — all fighting out of ROA Gisborne — dominated their opponents.
The trio earned two knockouts in the first three rounds, including the knock-out of the night when Nuku flatlined his opponent with a devastating right hand.
The local women's tag team of Alyssha Maynard-Wilson, Simone Poi and Materoa Poi — in their first-ever stage fight — put on a strong performance against more experienced opposition but lost by unanimous decision.
The crowd was in a frenzy throughout the tag-team fights, with supporters of the fighters cheering the roof off in support of their friends and family.
Because there were multiple fighters for each side, there were no stoppages between rounds in a frantic and exciting format that had the crowd on its feet.
