Windsor's first sanctioned K-1 kickboxing event ended up being the start of what could be an impressive amateur career for a Chatham-Kent man.
Tyler "The Sledge Hammer" Hart, a member of Armstrong Academy of Martial Arts, won by unanimous decision over Michael Robinson of Windsor Muay Thai in his first career fight.
He said it was a back-and-forth match early, however, he was able to find a strategy to give him the advantage.
"The first round... I wasn't really finding a good home for the jab and in the second round my coaches made the adjustment, told me to start leading with the cross. By the third round it started paying dividends," he explained.
Hart is an avid UFC fan which helped grow his interest in getting in the ring for himself.
"It's only so long you can watch it before you want to flirt with the idea," he added.
Joining Hart from Armstrong Academy at the event was Andrew Park. His match was just as much mental as it was physical since he had to change opponents.
Originally, Park was supposed to fight someone from the United States but they couldn't make it due to a passport issue. He ended up facing someone much taller and heavier than him, though both made sure they were in the same weight requirements before getting into the ring.
In the end, Park lost to Jeffery Labutte Saege of Windsor Muay Thai in a split decision.
"It could have gone either way, it was a really good match," said Thomas Armstrong, Park and Hart's coach.
World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Canada, which put on the event, has already scheduled its follow-up showcase in Windsor for December 6, 2024.
Hart hopes to take part and up his record to 2-0.
"It's just the matter of if they can find another big guy for me to fight," Hart said. "Heavyweights are hard to come by."