With a unanimous decision, Pedro Cassoma became the first fighter to win a professional Muay Thai bout in Manatee County. The 25-year-old from Daytona Beach handed Tony Leone his first professional loss at the Bradenton Area Convention Center to win one of the co-headlining events at Strykerz Shin Do Kumate XVII in Palmetto.
Alex Berrios claimed another unanimous decision in the other co-headliner, edging Cyrus Washington on all three judges’ scorecards. The 27-year-old from Tampa was competing in only his 26th professional fight and upended a 34-year-old with more than 70 wins and 50 knockouts to his credit.
Winners on the undercard included Mauras Pakai by split decision and Chauncey Lyndor by knockout in his pro debut.
The inaugural card at the Bradenton Convention Center can be streamed online at Fite.tv.
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Local teams don’t qualify
Coquina Beach hosted Florida’s final Major Beach Soccer qualifying tournament earlier this month, but no local teams are moving on to December’s MBS National Championship in Clearwater.
The headliner of the Aug. 6 tournament was the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Jamie McGuinness, a National Premier Soccer League defender who player-coached his Still Kicking team into the national championship in the Over 30 Co-Ed division. McGuinness and Co. edged Lakeland United 4-3 to win the division. Both teams, however, will compete for the national championship — the top two in each division qualify.
The Men’s Open division was decided by forfeit when injuries decimated Leo FC and paved the way for Tampa’s Futbol 5 to win the age group.
In the Women’s Open division, Land O’ Lakes’ Soccer Beaches cruised to a 5-1 win against the palm Beach Riptide and in the U18 Male division the Greenacres Sand Sharks from Lake Worth blew out Royal Palm Beach’s Kicks, 6-2.
Travel Ball season begins
The Suncoast Travel Ball slate technically began Saturday with the End of Summer Classic, but for teams from Manatee County the Back 2 School Bash in Sarasota and Bradenton is the true beginning. The first-week tournament only was open for 11U and 12U teams, and none from the area traveled to Clearwater to compete.
The Palmetto Yankees, Team Manatee, Cortez Stone Crabs, Florida Surge, Mustangs Elite, LWR Sharks and Braden River Bandits are all among the county teams who will open their fall slate Aug. 26-28. Tournaments are available for teams in all age groups from 8U through 16U.
David Wilson: 941-745-7057, @DBWilson2
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