RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – Bainbridge Island is quickly becoming known as a good place to come look for a fight.

The trio of Anisa Ashabi, Laura Swanson and Josh Soliva, all trained at the Bainbridge Island Boxing Club by owner and head trainer Ben Little, journeyed to Richmond, Virginia to compete in the recent World Kickboxing Association national competition for a chance to qualify for the U.S. competitive team.

They left a mark.

In fact, they left a few.

“It was amazing,” said Little of the scope of the event, which included more than 380 fighters from gyms around the country as well as international organizations from around the world.

Both Swanson and Soliva won both of their fights, Little said, though Ashabi was denied the chance to fight due to a lack of a proper opponent.

“There were no people who matched her age and weight class,” Little explained. “It was really unfortunate.”

Soliva had an extremely tough first fight, Little said, and had to battle his way back into the fight after taking a few knees to the face.

“He definitely lost his first two rounds,” Little said. “Then he came back in the third one. You hardly ever see that at the amateur level.”

Taking no chances in his second fight the next day, Soliva knocked his opponent out in less than a minute.

Swanson’s two fights seemed reversed; she won the first more easily before tackling a rough match.

“Laura’s first girl got a stoppage in the second round because the girl couldn’t defend herself anymore,” Little said. “The ref just stopped it.”

Her second fight, however, proved harder. Though she was able to secure the win in the end, Little said it was “a war.”

The fearsome fighters each earned a spot at the World Kickboxing Association worldwide competition later this year in Spain.

“This was a great learning experience,” Little said. “It was a tremendous experience for our fighters and our gym.”

Bainbridge Boxing Club has a variety of fight-themed classes and workouts for varying degrees of competition. Visit www.bainbridgeboxing.com or email info@bainbridgeboxing.com to learn more.