In the heart of Appalachia, Eric Watkins is building something bigger than a fight card. The founder and promoter of Real Fight Promotions envisions a world-class combat sports platform right here in West Virginia—one that gives local athletes a fair stage, inspires the next generation, and offers a positive outlet for young people growing up in the region. Read more:Real Fight Promotions brings world-class combat sports and real stories to Morgantown.
“My dream is to have a world-class combat sports platform right here in West Virginia, Appalachia, for the athletes and fighters, and for the young kids growing up,” Watkins said. “I think it would be a positive thing for the kids around here to see a professional fighter at the Walmart in Grafton than what they’re used to seeing. It could sure avoid a little bit of trouble we got going around here.”
A title fight with an unexpected storyline
That vision drives Real Fight’s upcoming event on August 29 at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place Hotel (doors open 5 p.m., fights begin 7 p.m.), pending final West Virginia State Athletic Commission approval, which Watkins puts at a 99.9% chance. The main event pits West Virginia National Guard Special Forces soldier Cody Wilson—full-time and previously deployed—against Texas firefighter Rudy Montenegro for the WBF world championship. The matchup carries an irresistible storyline: the two fighters look strikingly alike, almost like twins, adding a soap-opera feel to the title bout.
Related: More than an arm: what Rich Rodriguez is looking for in WVU’s next starting quarterback.
More than just the main event
The card mixes boxing and kickboxing and features plenty of compelling undercards. Densel Chapman returns for a kickboxing rematch against Eric Monn, while Chapman’s fiancée, Heidi Gum—a financial advisor living in Morgantown—also competes. Fans can also look forward to a heated rematch between Marques Moore and Jayden Owens, a rivalry that ended in a dramatic knockout last time and is being run back by mutual demand.
Breaking stereotypes in the ring
Breaking stereotypes is part of the mission. The card includes WVU med student Griffen Leombruno, and physical therapy student Czar Parrish, and a bioengineering student Watkins describes as a “young genius” with massive potential Gage Sites Woods. Fighters train at Black Cat Martial Arts inside Jim’s Boxing Gym (across from Dunhams in Morgantown Mall). Watkins emphasizes that many come from tough backgrounds—poverty, personal struggles—but the focus stays on real, competitive fights rather than mismatched exhibitions.
Related: WVU Women’s Basketball reveals non-conference slate for 2026-27.
Watkins himself knows the business from the inside. A veteran of 24 pro fights who once faced Roy Jones Jr., he prioritizes transparency and fairness after seeing “all the calamity and the sham in the game.”
WV Sports Nation is proud to sponsor Real Fight Promotions as it continues elevating combat sports in the Mountain State. For Watkins, it is more than boxing—it is a way of paying it forward and giving West Virginia fighters, and the community around them, a stage they deserve. For more information, visit https://realfightpromo.com/.
