LAS VEGAS (March 23, 2012) – Off the heels of their winner-take-all showdown that began with fireworks and ended in controversy, WBC Light Heavyweight (175 pounds) Champion Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (12-2, 10 KO’s) of Los Angeles, Calif. and undefeated, bitter rival Simon Marcus (23-0, 18 KO’s) of Toronto, Ontario Canada have agreed to square off in a rematch in the main event of the next Lion Fight WBC championship full-rules Muay Thai event at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. on Saturday, May 12.

Reserved seating for Lion Fight Muay Thai VI: Schilling vs. Marcus II, priced from $45, goes on sale tomorrow/Saturday, March 24 at 12 p.m. PT at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino box office, all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at Ticketmaster.com.

“I am really looking forward to the rematch. I think the first fight didn’t prove anything about who the better fighter is,” said Schilling. “I was obviously knocked out after Simon landed on my head and anything that happened after that was out of my control. Even after I was basically defenselessly standing there, Simon still couldn’t knock me out. I am very focused and motivated for the rematch.”

During their initial encounter at The Joint on Feb. 25, Schilling came out of the gates swinging, looking to score an early KO on Marcus. Poised and composed, Marcus weathered the storm for the most part and countered Schilling’s offense.

While the two were engaged in a clinch in the first round, Marcus executed a throw that sent both fighters to the canvas. Schilling landed head-first, on his back, and was badly hurt from the weight of Marcus crashing down on him.

Schilling slowly made it to his feet and, after the fight resumed, Marcus pounced on his opponent and sent Schilling to the mat once again. Using sheer willpower, Schilling beat the 10 count, but the referee, seeing Schilling unfit to continue, stopped the contest, giving Marcus the TKO victory and both fighters’ purses.

Instant replay showed that Marcus initiated the throw at the ankle line, with one of his feet behind Schilling, a technique that some governing bodies deem illegal under Muay Thai rules (Only throws initiated at the waist line and above are legal). The referee, however, determined that there was no rules infraction.

“Anybody who understands the sport of Muay Thai knows that it was a legal sweep because when I stepped, I did not use my heel to hook his leg. I threw him over my knee and he pulled me down and I landed on top of him,” explained Marcus. “If you pull somebody on top of you, you’ve got to defend yourself. I have no problems fighting Joe again, though. He wanted a rematch and it’s going to happen.”

“Because of the unorthodox and inconclusive manner in which the fight unfolded, it’s only fair to both fighters as well as the fans that an immediate rematch take place,” said Lion Fight Promotions CEO Scott Kent.

“This rematch between Joe and Simon will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest Muay Thai fight in history on American soil,” Kent continued. The skill and talent of the two fighters combined with the hostility between Joe and Simon make this one of the most anticipated Muay Thai fights of all-time in North America.”

Additional bouts for Lion Fight Muay Thai VI: Schilling vs. Marcus II, will be announced soon.

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