Submitted photos – Scottie Stockman, center, won the Kodiak World Championship at the recent Rumble at the River.

The Bear River Casino Resort apparently knows how to throw a good fight night.

And so does Red Thunder Promotions.

Bear River closed out 2023 with the return of the Rumble at the River Tuff Man Boxing Tournament last week, and the success of the event means we will likely see two more events in 2024.

“It was the fight night of the year at Bear River,” promoter John McGinnis of Red Thunder Promotions said. “It was an amazing night. Everyone had a great time.”

The fight night, which featured several local amateur fighters facing off in three different weight classes, took place at the Tish-Non Ballroom and sold out all 350 tickets well in advance.

And, according to McGinnis, Rumble at the River will likely return in early May with an additional fight night also tentatively planned for November.

“I got a lot of feedback from people saying it was the best fight night of the year,” McGinnis said. “The fights were evenly matched, there were good battles and knockouts. What an amazing night.”

At one stage, the entire arena broke out into a rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

“The crowd really responded,” McGinnis said.

Fight of the night honors went to the Black Bear Division championship (159 to 179 pounds), which featured Cesar “The Lion in the North” Kartaltepe and Carlos “Kukulkan” Castillo, which was won by the latter after a grueling three-round battle.

“It was an absolute war for three rounds,” McGinnis said. “Those two want to go at it again.”

Submitted photo – Bryce Bradbeer won the Brown Bear Division.

The Brown Bear Division (180 to 200 pounds) was won by Bryce Bradbeer, while the Grizzly Bear Division (201 pounds and up) was won by JJ Jackson out of Hoopa on a decision.

Two additional fights also took place, with Eureka’s Nolan Price defeating Hoopa’s Talon Borden in the Cub Challenge with a TKO at end of the second round. 

The Kodiak World Championship went to Scottie Stockman, who clinched the win with the ninth first-round finish of his career, getting the better of Josh Eaton on a knockout less than two minutes into the fight.

The Brawler Bonuses went to Castillo, Paul Petrov and Alexander Cork, while the knockout bonuses went to Price, Grant Manzi, JJ Jackson and Stockman.

Submitted photo