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Rodgers’ TKO win lands him Muay Thai title belt

Jeff Caspersen
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Bennie E. Palmore II www.benniepalmore.comTyler Rodgers, center, poses with his coaches, Kevin Ross (left) and Mark "The Hyena" Beecher, after defeating Robert Isenor in a Muay Thai kickboxing fight on Saturday.
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Tyler Rodgers wants to make a name for himself.

The 22-year-old Glenwood Springs High School graduate took a step in that direction on Saturday, improving to 4-0 and claiming a United States Muay Thai Association title belt with a second-round technical knockout of Robert Isenor at the Sport Center of Las Vegas.

With a perfect Muay Thai kickboxing record and a title belt, the new Nevada state champion at 147 pounds is indeed becoming a known commodity.



“It’s a big step for me,” Rodgers said. “I’m pretty stoked for it. It’s what I was working towards. Now people are going to want [the belt]. People are going to start wanting to fight me. Bigger promotions will be wanting to get me on their card.”

Rodgers moved to Las Vegas just over a year ago to train and get his kickboxing career off the ground.



So far, so good.

“It’s great right now,” said Rodgers, who trains at Hyena Muay Thai with instructor Mark “The Hyena” Beecher. “Mark definitely hooked me up with this title fight. I owe every bit of success to him and Norm Turner, my strength and conditioning coach.”

And, with Beecher in his corner, Rodgers will defend his belt for the first time on Nov. 19 against Johnny Parsons at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

“I want to defend my belt, so I can keep it officially,” said Rodgers, who turns 23 on Oct. 6. “I want to take it as far as I can go. I obviously want to get some more fights under my belt and make a name for myself. Johnny’s a big name around here.”

jcaspersen@postindependent.com


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