TOP KICKBOXING EVENT

Mexico’s Aguilar: A Most Unlikely Hero

Heavyweight in Action on Kickboxing Empire

World Championship Card

Saturday, July 30, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino





Despite being a heavyweight from a country known for producing boxing stars, plus competing in a sport that is much more popular in Europe and Asia, Tijuana, Mexico’s Edwin “El Tigre” Aguilar has kicked and punched his way to multiple kickboxing titles and a successful MMA career.


He’s even become a movie and television star in his homeland.



In all, he is, indeed, a most unlikely hero.


Aguilar will appear in one of the featured bouts against Las Vegan Chidi Njokuani on the nationally and internationally televised world championship Kickboxing Empire card on Saturday, July 30, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.


Mexico is not exactly a hotbed for kickboxing, but Aguilar is working hard to change that.


“I’m ready and looking forward to fighting in Las Vegas,” he said. “Mexico is known for boxers, but, hopefully, the success I have had and will continue to have will help put Mexican kickboxers on the map.”


Aguilar’s list of accomplishments dating back to the 1990s is impressive on many fronts.

He is a multiple-time Muay Thai world champion, Muay Thai North American Champion, a five-time national champion, a three-time Pan American champion, a national champion in Sanchou and Vale Todo, an international MMA fighter; he’s even had one professional boxing bout, which he won by knockout. In between, he’s found time to star in movies, open a chain of Team Tiger gyms and is a frequent guest on Mexican television.


“I work hard and I train hard and good things keep happening,” he explains. “I think that because there aren’t a lot of fighters like me in Mexico, I stand out and that’s helped me get recognized by the Mexican people.”


Aguilar says he’s seen his opponent, Njokuani, fight and is ready for a tough test.


“He’s very strong and extremely tough and I’m going to need all my skills to beat him,” said Aguilar. “But I always perform well on the big stages like this. Knowing so many people will be watching will push me to be better than ever. I’m really looking forward to July 30.”



The world championship card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino contains the finest collection of international kickboxers to compete in Las Vegas in four years and includes five current and former world champions.



The card starts at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) July 30 with doors to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opening at 6:30.



Tickets—priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and $125—are available at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and through Ticketmaster, either by calling 702-474-4000 or 800-745-3000 or going on line at ticketmaster.com



Headlining the card is Alain “The Panther” Ngalani of Hong Kong against Dzevad “BH Machine” Poturak of Sarajevo, Bosnia, for the International Kickboxing Association super heavyweight championship.



Other international fighters include Denis Goncheronok of Minsk, Belarus; Sergiano Cario of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Pavel Turuk of Minsk, Belarus; and Tim Thomas of Birmingham, England.



Other Las Vegans on the card include professionals Shawn Yarborough and Sofie Bagerdhai plus amateurs Lee Henry Lily, Hector Lopez and Lindsay Barnes.



The nationally and internationally televised card July 30 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is promoted by Martial Arts Association in conjunction with Kickboxing Empire, both of Las Vegas.



In addition to the Ngalani-Poturak IKA super heavyweight championship, other bouts July 30 include: