JAMAICA combined martial arts team founder Jason McKay heaped praises on Richard Stone for winning consecutive Night of Champions International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championship titles — with less than 36 hours’ notice — at the International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) United States Open in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday.

Stone and Akino Lindsay, who was originally scheduled to face Ireland’s Leard Xheladini for the Night of Champions title, were among the Jamaican contingent of 34 fighters stuck on the island after flights were cancelled due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl on Wednesday.

In a bid to salvage the ITF bout on nationally televised Night of Champions at the world’s biggest martial arts open, McKay dug deep into his firm’s sponsorship coffers to have McKay Security jet Stone into Orlando, hoping he could, at least, compete in clash and continuous sparring.

In an ironic twist of fate Stone ended up switching places with Nicholas Dusard, who was initially named as Lindsay’s replacement, for the televised US Open ITF title.

Stone, last year’s Night of Champions winner against American Sheldon Spencer, convincingly avenged his loss against the Irishman in the first round at last September’s World Championships in Finland.

“It was a great performance by Stone,” said McKay, pointing out that McKay Security’s commitment to martial arts, and sports in general, was foremost in ensuring Jamaica’s name would not have been excluded from the Night of Champions limelight televised on
Triller TV, Swerve, Stadium and Fight Network.

Stone, 32, a four-time US Open world champion and decorated ISKA fighter with seven Amateur Members Association (AMA) gold medals, said having experienced Dusard as coach made the difference, enabling him to make Xheladini his second Night of Champions scalp, after victory over Sheldon Spencer of the United States in 2023.

“When I fought him at the ITF World Championships in Finland and lost, I was a bit flustered then; I wasn’t as focused. This time I was focused and had my coach, Dusard, with me to keep me focused. This was like a fated rematch for me,” said an overjoyed Stone.

Stone, who was awarded the bout by all four judges, sat through a fight plan with Dusard, analysing Xheladini — the runner-up at this year’s ITF European Championship and winner of the 2023 European Cup in the -87 kilogram sparring category.

“Stone and I sat down and watched the full fight to see what had happened when he lost to him; we worked out what went well and what didn’t. I also watched a couple fights of Xheladini and formulated a game plan. What we discussed was pretty much what happened in the match,” said Dusard.,

Meanwhile Dusard, 35, who for the second-straight year won double gold at the US Open, said his coaching role in Stone’s gold, in addition to gold and silver won by junior fighter Nathan-John Pellington, were special moments for him.

“Those medals lifted the spirits of the entire Jamaican team back home [because] the kids were disappointed [with the flight cancellations]. I won two more gold medals but I would have preferred if the kids were here,” he said, adding that Stone’s win should inspire all the juniors to return with resolve at next year’s open.