ItB次元官网网址檚 been awhile since Stan Peterec looked this good.
The 53-year-old former world kickboxing champion dropped 45 pounds earlier this year during two months of training and coaching in Thailand.
With the lost weight, heB次元官网网址檚 feeling good. So good, heB次元官网网址檚 getting back in the ring for the first time in more than a decade.
This Saturday (Aug. 25) Peterec is headlining his annual event, Summer Slugfest VI, at Archie Browning Sports Centre.
B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e fighting at this age, your heart and mind are in the right place,B次元官网网址� Peterec said. B次元官网网址淏ut the vehicle that is your body doesnB次元官网网址檛 run like it did.B次元官网网址�
Peterec last fought in 2000, a rematch of his 1997 mixed martial arts tilt with Dragyn Yoyanovic at the old Memorial Arena.
B次元官网网址淪tan still hits hard, which is what heB次元官网网址檚 known for,B次元官网网址� said kickboxer Linsday Ball.
The student of PeterecB次元官网网址檚 is a current world and Canadian title belt holder in the featherweight category, and regularly trains one-on-one with Peterec.
Until this year, Ball didnB次元官网网址檛 hold the pads for Peterec in training sessions. But she now knows what Peterec is all about.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been bruised on my face and knocked to the ground from training sessions, even with the pads. You have to beware.B次元官网网址�
Ball spent the better part of the past year in Thailand, where she won a world title and then a world tournament in Korea. Peterec joined her at the same gym in February, and started B次元官网网址渄ropping weight like crazy.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden I lost 45 pounds, I was training and jogging everyday,B次元官网网址� Peterec said.
B次元官网网址淗e has the skills, so to watch him get into shape B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 scary,B次元官网网址� Ball said. B次元官网网址淗e started to out run me.B次元官网网址�
Ball is also fighting on Saturday night, against Kate McGraw from Los Angeles, Calif.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never seen Stan fight so IB次元官网网址檓 very excited.B次元官网网址�
Ticket sales and feedback are evidence that fans are excited to see Peterec back in the ring.
Naturally at 53, there are also some who are worried about him, including himself. For starters, heB次元官网网址檚 fighting a 30-year-old named Tracy Hebert.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had most of my old pals saying B次元官网网址榃hy are you fighting this guy?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Peterec said. B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址楾ake an easier fight,B次元官网网址� they tell me. And here I am taking on an in-your-face, high cardio guy who comes right at you.B次元官网网址�
About 10 years ago, Hebert came to PeterecB次元官网网址檚 for a few weeks to train and the two actually sparred, so they know a little bit about each other. Enough for Peterec to know heB次元官网网址檚 facing a very fit opponent.
B次元官网网址淚f I donB次元官网网址檛 knock (Hebert) out, IB次元官网网址檒l have to work like a dog to keep him from killing me.B次元官网网址�
Peterec has been organizing kickboxing and MMA fight cards since the B次元官网网址�90s, and fought a few times in the earlier days of MMA. But now heB次元官网网址檚 returning to kickboxing, the sport in which he was dominant as a world champion.
Peterec also wants to be the first Canadian to fight in five different decades.
B次元官网网址�(Panamanian fighter) Roberto Duran is famous for it, and Jack Johnson did it too. But IB次元官网网址檝e searched, and asked around, and I canB次元官网网址檛 find any record of a Canadian having done it.B次元官网网址�
Tickets are available at Sports Traders, 508 Discovery St., and PeterecB次元官网网址檚 Gym, 831 Fisgard St. Doors open at 6, fights at 7 p.m.
Also on the bill are local favourites Hal Kreisel, Mike Downey, Alex Tribe and Rob Doerksen.
Kickboxer Gabriel Varga on world stage
World champion kickboxer Gabriel Varga of Saanich has signed a contract to expand his career as a pro fighter.
Varga, a former student of Stan Peterec, currently holds the World Kickboxing Network and World Kickboxing Federation belts in the super lightweight weight class of 135 to 140 pounds.
The Lambrick Park secondary grad will realize his dreams next month by fighting in the K-1 organization in Los Angeles on Sept. 8. Varga, 24, will face Lerdsila Chumpairtour, 31, who has over 230 fights.
Later this year Varga, who was the headliner of Summer Slugfest I in 2007, will achieve another goal, as he received permission to fight for the International Sport Karate AssociationB次元官网网址檚 pro title.
