Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Deutsch Puu of American Samoa, will enter into the fight ring this month on the 18th, to face CJ Leveque for the Muay Thai Global (MTG) Super Heavyweight (265lbs plus) championship belt.

Puu who has held MMA championship titles such as the World Wide MMA Gladiator Interim Heavyweight title and has defeated MMA fighters such as Ultimate Fighting Challenge championship contender Wesley ‘Cabbage’ Correira, who is widely known and respected not only for his devastating knock-out power, but his winningness to step up to any challenge. 

Being involved in the fight scene for over 30 years and well versed in different fighting styles, Puu’s last fight came against another Samoan in a Muay Thai Global event in November of last year, where he was able pull about the victory in devastating fashion.

Puu currently lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nevada where he is the Muay Thai and Kickboxing head coach of the Hawaiian Fighting Arts-Las Vegas under Black Belt Hall of Fame SIFU Joseph Solis.

Samoa News spoke with Puu through social media about his big upcoming fight. “I was originally scheduled to fight Dave ‘Badman’ Huckaba for the Muay Thai Global Heavyweight World Championship,” said Puu. Huckaba is the fighter who defeated Samoan kickboxing legend, Ray ‘Sugar-foot’ Sefo in only two rounds.

Puu explained that two and half weeks before his (Puu) MTG fight with Huckaba, Huckaba pulled out of the fight. He said the fight was then given to backup fighter and fellow K-1 Kickboxing veteran Carter Williams, in which Williams turned down the fight against Puu.

“Finally the fight was offered to CJ Leveque who agreed to fight me for the belt,” he said.

“I am very well prepared for this fight and have complete confidence that I am prepared for the task at hand. CJ is a game fighter and I look forward to our battle in Sacramento. I have had a very hard time staying active because most times people back out from fighting me,” explained Puu.

“I only want to fight the best this world has to offer and will always give my best every fight. Thank you everyone for your support,” he said.

He stated that upon checking the World Muay Thai statistics, he learned that there has never been an American Samoa world champion. “I plan on changing history and when I do, I want to donate this championship belt that I will earn to the American Samoa National Museum,” he said.

Muay Thai is a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. The physical and mental discipline, which includes combat on shins, is known as ‘the art of the eight limbs’ because it is characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins associated with a good physical preparation that makes a full contact fighter very efficient. The combat sport became widespread internationally in the 20th century, when practitioners defeated notable practitioners of other martial arts.

The fight will be taking place on Saturday July 18 at the Red Lion Woodlake Hotel and Conference Center in Sacramento, California.