KICKBOXING IN CHICAGO: THE HONG KONG CHALLENGE

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WOMEN TO FIGHT FULL-CONTACT KICKBOXING AT HONG KONG CHALLENGE

(CHICAGO - October 2) Two Michigan women are among the ten people
accepting the HONG KONG CHALLENGE, an exotic and unusual Chinese
full-contact kickboxing show to be presented at St. An drew's Gym, 1605
West Addison, 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, October 7. Kim Ison of Taylor,
Michigan, who is currently the atom-weight Women's World Kickboxing
Champion will be battling Tracy Bell from Detroit. Both women weigh in
at 115 lbs. and stand 5'3''.

"This will be an exhibition bout," said Steve Abbate, one of the
extraordinary event's producers. "Although partici pation in kickboxing
training is growing in popularity among women concerned with self-defense,
it is still some what rare for women to reach the competition level." The
Hong Kong Challenge is the premiere event for 8th degree black-sash Master
Abbate and 5th degree black sash Si Fu Rocco Lombardo who teach Shaolin
Kung Fu at the AC TION HEALTH CLUB in River Grove, Illinois. "There are
also an increasing number of women of all kinds who have become fans of
competition events such as the HONG KONG CHALLENGE," Lombardo said. "They
love the fast-paced action."

Other participants, who will be vying for a $5,000 winner-take-all purse
in elimination-style competition, include a current men's kickboxing World
Champion title holder, 33 year-old Manson Gibson (5'10", 170 lbs.) of
Chicago and, in alphabetical order:

Tim Burnett - Chicago
Age 33, 6'4", 250 lbs.
Kickboxing/United Fighting Arts Federation

Mark Halt - Oaklawn, Illinois
Age 39, 5'10", 190 lbs.
Kenpo/Tae Kwon Do

Nikita Young Johnson - Chicago
Age 35, 6'0", 225 lbs.
Seven Stars Praying Mantis Kung Fu

Steve Lick - Chicago
Age 33, 5'11", 185 lbs.
Tia Kit Kung Fu

Yasunori Matsumoto - Palatine, Illinois
Age 39, 5'10", 190 lbs.
ShidoKan Karate

Peter Vines - Chicago
Age 25, 6'2", 210 lbs.
ShidoKan Karate

Leonid Zoilivoinsky - Wheeling, Illinois
Age 24, 5'11", 200 lbs.
Kickboxing - Military Hand to Hand Combat

Promoter of the event Tom Letuli, himself an American Self-Defense System
black belt, will also act as ringside su pervisor. Other officials of the
HONG KONG CHALLENGE, which is sanctioned by the Thai Boxing Council, in
clude referee Thomas Heriaud of Oswego, Illinois, judges Dan Palmer of
North Aurora, Illinois, Jim White of Au rora, Illinois, and Ed Carillo of
Waukegan, Illinois, ringside announcer Kieron Davis, ringside medical Dr.
Michael Alberti, and ambulance paramedic services Jacob Willens.

"We are tentatively scheduling a press conference for Wednesday to provide
the media with more details about the HONG KONG CHALLENGE," said Letuli.
"However, we may not hold one if there is a verdict in the Simson case."

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