Richard Stone made local martial arts history on Saturday by becoming the first fighter to win consecutive Night of Champions International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championship titles at the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) U.S. Open in Orlando, Florida.
Originally scheduled to compete in a clash and back-to-back sparring bouts on Friday, Stone was hurriedly informed by his sponsor, Mackay Security, on Thursday night during his visit to Jamaica that he would instead be taking to the main stage at Saturday's Night of Champions.
In a twist of fate, Stone was replaced by Nicolas Dussard in the televised US Open ITF title match but, ironically, faced Ireland's Leard Sheradini, who had beaten Stone in the first round at the World Championships in Finland last September.
Dussard was originally scheduled to be a replacement at Night of Champions for Aquino Lindsay, one of 34 senior and junior fighters stranded in Jamaica by Hurricane Beryl, but coached Stone to a historic win.
“I was trying to salvage the situation and then I heard Stone was coming and when he came he couldn't play the U.S. Open. We spoke on the phone and we agreed that I would play the U.S. Open and he would play at Night of Champions,” Dussard explained.
Stone won his first ITF Night of Champions title last year when he defeated American Sheldon Spencer. He is also a four-time U.S. Open World Champion and an ISKA fighter with seven AMA gold medals.
But many expected him to struggle again against Sheradini, who reached the podium as individual bronze medalist at the ITF's biggest tournament in Finland and beat him 2-1 before winning the team gold medal.
“When I played him at the ITF World Championships in Finland and lost, I was a bit upset. I wasn't that focused. This time I was focused and my coach Dussard helped me to stay focused. It was like a rematch of destiny for me,” said a delighted Stone, whose performance was well received by all four judges.
Dussard said he had devised a fight plan to neutralise Stone and Sheradini, runner-up at this year's ITF European Championships and the 2023 European Cup winner in the 87kg sparring category.
“Stone and I sat down and watched the whole match to see what happened when he lost, what went right and what didn't. I also watched some of Sheradini's matches and we came up with a game plan. What we discussed was pretty much what actually happened in the match,” Dussard said.
Noting that Stone's victory was celebrated not only by the few who made it to Orlando but also by many back home, Dussard dedicated his two gold medals, as well as that of Nathan John Pellington, the man who led them to the gold medal, to the entire team left behind in Jamaica.
“The kids were disappointed. I've been competing at the U.S. Open for the better part of 15 years, won two more gold medals, but it would have been better if the kids were here.”
“Stone was fortunate to get a rematch. He deserved it. It was a great way to end his journey. Stone is a very humble and hard worker who does an amazing job both in and out of the ring. It was almost a given that this moment would come. I'm honored to be up there and be a part of it.”
