Fighter vies for Canadian title
Vinicius Lemes Bett and Leigh Mueller are pumped for Dignity Fight Night in Langford at Eagle Ridge Arena this Saturday. Mueller is competing for an International Sport Kickboxing Association Canadian title belt and Bett, from Brazil, is entering his first mixed martial art bout in Canada.
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Updated: November 03, 2009 1:14 PM
Langford’s Leigh Mueller seeks kickboxing belt
Langford’s own Leigh Mueller may soon be a Canadian kickboxing champion.
It’s only been a few weeks since Mueller has known he was on the card for the “Dignity Fight Night” bout, but since he never stops training, he was ready, said organizer Wally Petrovic.
“He is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. If anyone deserves (this title) it’s Leigh,” Petrovic said. “Every time I’ve called him to fight he’s never backed down to everyone.”
Mueller, owner of Canada’s Best Karate, is excited to compete for the International Sport Kickboxing Association’s welterweight Canadian championship belt. Gearing up to this fight, Mueller is training every day.
“I am really excited,” Mueller said. “It’s nice to have my first title fight in Langford where I live.”
Mueller holds a 9-2-1 kickboxing record. He has had a busy year, fighting in four weight classes in boxing and kickboxing.
This is his first crack at a title belt for kickboxing, although he won a world karate championship in Australia in 2000.
“It’s neat that almost a decade later I’ve moved onto kickboxing,” Mueller said. “Hopefully after another year I’ll move to pro MMA fighting.”
Mueller is scheduled to face Miles Lohman of Courtenay.
While the majority of the fights are kickboxing, a number of mixed martial arts bouts are scheduled for the card.
Vinicius Lemes Bett, a MMA fighter from Brazil, is gearing up for his first MMA fight in Canada.
Bett has been training hard for the event and said he is confident he will win. While MMA is gaining popularity here in Canada, it has been popular in Brazil for years.
In Brazil MMA is referred to as valentudo, and Bett, 20, has been training in the sport since he was 10 years old. Currently he is sitting with a 4-1 record.
“People should come out and support the local community and good talent,” Mueller said. “It should be entertaining and should be fun.”
There are about 14 fights scheduled for the event. There will also two female kickboxing bouts.
The fight night is hosted by Petrovic of Final Round Marital Art Centre in Duncan and Curtis Lee of Curtis Lee’s gym.
“It’s going to be huge,” Lee said. “Half of the card is full of young athletes from Victoria.”
Dignity Fight Night is at Eagle Ridge Arena on Nov. 7. Doors open at 6 p.m. and fights start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Canada’s Best Karate, 777 Goldstream Ave., and at Curtis Lee’s gym, 630 Bay St.
VIP tickets are $60, ringside tickets are $50 and general admission is $40. For more information call Lee at 250-888-8100.
sports@goldstreamgazette.com
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