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Valor Fighting and Management (VFM) is pleased to
announce that three of its very best, Tom
Howard, Nathan
Jones and Sylvester
Terkay, have signed exclusively with K-1,
the world's leading fight promotion. Their multi-year Agreements
call for a minimum of four fights each year, under both K-1 and Mixed
Martial Arts rules.
VFM is a California Limited Liability Company formed in
January 2004 by Rick Bassman's Ultimate
Pro Wrestling (UPW) and Eddy Millis' Shark Tank.
Howard, Jones and Terkay all began their professional careers
with California-based UPW, where they still perform on a regular
basis. Through UPW's association with World
Wrestling Entertainment, all three went on to sign with WWE.
Each has since elected to leave WWE in order to pursue opportunities
in Japan.
Howard, as "The Green Beret," Terkay, as
"Predator" and Jones all gained notoriety in Japan through
the Zero-One
Pro Wrestling Organization. In 2001, both UPW and Howard signed
one-year contracts with Zero-One, exclusive to pro wrestling in
Japan. Upon expiration of those contracts in 2002, each has
continued to perform its obligations to Zero-One, as have Predator and
Jones, on a non-contractual tour-by-tour basis. Howard, who has
appeared for Zero-One on more than 30 tours, has held the Zero-One Tag
Team and US Titles. UPW has brought numerous colorful and
talented characters to Zero-One, including King
Adamo (UPW's Skulu), Hardkore,
Inc., UPW
Tag Team Champions The Ballard Brothers and UPW
Lightweight Champ Frankie Kazarian, current WWE
wrestlers Ryan
Sakoda, Jon
Heidenreich, Nova
and Horshu,
as well as current Zero-One mainstays Spanky
and Vansack
Acid. With its recent booking of Jack
Bull on Zero-One's April tour, the Company brings its
total to 39 pro wrestlers introduced to Zero-One by
UPW. Predator started with Zero-One in 2002 and Jones in 2003,
and each quickly became popular there. Like Howard, Predator and
Jones have appeared for Zero-One on a tour-by-tour non-contractual
basis.
As far as Tom, Nathan and Predator are concerned,"
Bassman continues, "we have aggressively looked to develop
opportunities to advance their careers in Japan for more than a
year," Bassman continued. "Each has been keenly
interested in shoot fighting, and with its continued explosion in
Japan, long-term fight deals were the logical course to pursue.
K-1 made Tom, Nathan and Predator offers that met many of our
objectives and exceeded others."
Some controversy over Howard's, Jones' and Terkay's signing
to K-1 has arisen in Japan, amidst some claims that PRIDE,
through its association with Zero-One, had first rights to these
fighters. Explains Bassman, "for quite some time now, we've
told Zero-One what Tom's, Predator's and Nathan's objectives were (signing
long-term fight deals). They (Zero-One) were clear through
many communications that these deals were not going to happen through
PRIDE at any time in the foreseeable future. From time to time,
they indicated that there might be a single fight opportunity
available for all or one of the guys, but no offers were made.
Several e-mails were sent recently regarding Predator's possible
participation in the Grand Prix, but a formal offer was never made,
nor did Predator, or UPW on his behalf, agree to participate in the
Grand Prix. Through the course of this correspondence, Predator
signed a long-term Agreement with K-1 that he is very happy with, as
are Tom and Nathan. Each has a family to support and a mortgage
to pay and the new arrangement with K-1 provides a welcome level of
security. I am truly sorry if this has caused any confusion or
created any problems for Zero-One."
"We'll be forever appreciative of the opportunities
afforded to us by Zero-One," says UPW Founder/Owner and Valor
Co-President Rick Bassman. "Mr. Hashimoto and Mr. Nakamura have
worked very hard to build Zero-One and we're grateful that we
were able to be a part of their effort from the beginning and to
watch the Company grow over the past three years. UPW hopes
to continue to provide them with unique and colorful wrestlers.
We have so many excellent prospects for Japan, including many
who would be appearing there for the first time, and I hope these
appearances are made for Zero-One."
The Valor Company itself has signed a development deal with
K-1, which includes the scouting, training and booking of talent to
K-1, as well as the development and production of special projects.
In 2004 alone, in addition to Howard, Jones and Terkay, Valor has thus
far contracted Stefan
Gamlin, Kimo,
Mighty Mou
and Brian
Warren to fight for K-1.
Valor Co-President Eddy
Millis, whose world-renown Shark Tank has trained fighters
for K-1 over the past two years, says, "Our association with
K-1 through Valor opens a whole world of new possibilities. At the end
of 2004, I feel confident that Valor will have delivered many great
new fighters to K-1, that some will have captured World Championships
and that Valor will be on the map with its own events and identity.”
Valor
Fighting debuts June 5 at the Swinomish
Northern Lights Casino in Anacortes, Washington and follows
that up with an appearance July 9 in Barbados.
http://www.valorfighting.com
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