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Champions crowned at Toughman

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Curtis Jackson, right, hits opponent Brad Parsons during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Jackson won the bout.

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January 13, 2013 @ 12:55 AM

DAVID WALSH

The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- Noise levels reached their highest Saturday night for the first and final championship bout in the 25th Tri-State Original Toughman Contest at Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Ashley Grizzle of Portsmouth, Ohio, started the finals with a first-round TKO over Kaitlin Moore of Logan, W.Va., to cap a 3-0 weekend. Grizzle's support was huge at the outset and continued to grow through the competition.

The fans who remained in their seats for the heavyweight final got behind Dustin Ryan of Ashland, who put on a game effort the final two rounds to prevail over Rashawde Myers of Huntington. Ryan forced two standing 8-counts in the third round and then Myers stopped, resulting in a TKO and the vocal fans got even louder.

"Blocked it out until it was over," said Grizzle, who tipped the scales at 282 pounds in the heavyweight division. "It meant a lot to hear that."

This was Grizzle's first Toughman show.

Three other champions were crowned and one championship didn't change hands.

Trent Blankenship of Coal Grove won the lightweight title by split decision over 2012 champ Brandon Kitts of South Point in all-Ohio matchup.

Deron Keeton of Huntington, who finished runner-up in the middleweight division a year ago, atoned for that as he boxed his way to a decision over Justin Clark, who also is from Huntington.

Melvin Russell of Greenup, Ky., nicknamed "Romantic Redneck", collected the light heavyweight title with a decision over Charles Whittington of Huntington.

Men's champions received Toughman jackets and $1,000. Grizzle got a jacket and $750.

The pro bout Saturday didn't come off as advertised. Bobby Thomas of Oak Hill, W.Va., was supposed to defending his West Virginia cruiserweight title against Warren Browning of Lenore. The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds.

Thomas didn't make weight. He came in at 204 1/2 pounds, so promoter Jerry Thomas informed the crowd the fight would now be in the heavyweight class and cut to four rounds.

Thomas neutralized Browning's power and scored consistently with a left jab and rights to the head. At the end of the second round, Browning (17-3) appeared to be in trouble. He didn't answer the bell for the third, so Thomas (12-1) got credit for a second-round TKO.

Thomas is now 2-0 in Toughman shows at Big Sandy. He knocked out Cullen Rogers in the first round in 2011.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Curtis Jackson, right, hits opponent Brad Parsons during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Jackson won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Rashawee Myers, left, knocks out opponent Jason Brooks during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Myers won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Trent Blankenship, left, takes a hit from Cody Nunly during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Blankenship won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Trent Blankenship, left, strikes opponent Cody Nunly during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Blankenship won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Shannon Stewart, right, strikes opponent Roger Forest, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Stewart won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Chris Lovely, left, takes on Tony Costa during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Lovely won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Rebecca Davis, left, prepares to take a hit from Ashley Grizzle during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Grizzle won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Trent Blankenship, right, celebrates after defeating Cody Nunly during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Shannon Stewart, right, takes on Roger Forest, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Stewart won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Rashawee Myers, left, takes on Jason Brooks, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Myers won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Fans watch as the Trii-State Original Toughman Competition continues on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

The Tri-State Original Toughman Competition continues on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Drops of blood cover the mat after Rashawee Myers knocked out opponent Jason Brooks during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Barry Mobley, left, takes on Colton Marcum, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Mobley won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Robery Kirby, left, takes on Josh Browning, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Browning won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Shannon Stewart, right, takes on Roger Forest, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Stewart won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Damon Fox, right, takes on Josh Preston, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Preston won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Jason Brooks, pictured, took on Rashawee Myers during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Myers won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Mickey Furnier, pictured, takes on Aron Salyer during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Salyer won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

The Tri-State Original Toughman Competition continues on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Aron Salyer, left, takes on Mickey Furnier, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Salyer won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Chris Lovely, right, takes on Tony Costa, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Lovely won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Casey Taylor, left, takes on Melvin Russell, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Russell won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Casey Taylor, left, takes on Melvin Russell, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Russell won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

The Tri-State Original Toughman Competition continues on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Deron Keeton, right, takes on Rick Roseberry, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Keeton won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Deron Keeton, right, akes on Rick Roseberry, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Keeton won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Casey Taylor, right, takes on Melvin Russell, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Russell won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Rebecca Davis, left, takes on Ashley Grizzle, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Grizzle won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Chris Lovely, right, takes on Tony Costa, left, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Lovely won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Chris Kingbury, left, takes on Brandon Kitts, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Kitts won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

The Tri-State Original Toughman Competition continues on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Casey Taylor , left, takes on Melvin Russell, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Russell won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Chris Kingbury, left, takes on Brandon Kitts, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Kitts won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Brandon Kitts, pictured, takes on Chris Kingbury during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Kitts won the bout.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Chris Kingbury, left, takes on Brandon Kitts, right, during the final night of the Tri-State Original Toughman Competition on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Kitts won the bout.

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