Friday’s “Fight Night” in Kansas City will have a large contingent of Iolans to cheer on a pair of local combatants.
Milton Ivy, a fledgling heavyweight boxer, will take on Jacob Giangrosso in the debut boxing match for both.
Meanwhile, Iolan Cody Tice will take on Nikolas Quinn in an 185-pound mixed martial arts bout. Both Tice and Quinn are 0-1 in their brief MMA careers.
As part of their help in promoting Blue Corner Battles — the name designated for Friday’s series of bouts at Harrah’s Casino in Kansas City, Mo. — both Ivy and Tice have sold scores of tickets to friends, family and other acquaintances in Iola.
“Without a doubt, some of their largest crowds are when people from Iola show up,” said Mike Aronson, a local law enforcement officer who is helping train the pair.
The local fighters began their careers as part of the now-defunct Adrenaline Fitness Center opened by Iolan Jacob Browning.
Browning has since had to exit the fighting game because of lingering shoulder injuries, and a change in careers, but both Ivy and Tice cite him as their inspiration.
“None of this would have been possible without him,” Tice said.
“I’m a little anxious,” Ivy admitted.
“I’m just ready to get it going,” Tice said.
There are other supporters on top of the local fans cheering on the Iola fighters.
Tice, who works at Iola Utley’s Auto Body, has received sponsorship support from his bosses, as well as from O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Greg Shields allows the fighters to train after hours in a vacant room behind his barber shop on the courthouse square.
Aronson, whose own training took a back seat to cancer treatment last year, has been on the rebound since being declared cancer-free.
“These guys have actually been helping me get back into shape,” Aronson said.
He is the chief trainer for Tice, while Ivy’s primary trainer is his brother, Milton. Milton Ivy also is a heavyweight boxer, with a record of 1-1.
