Selwyn John added to his trophy haul at the Moruga Multi-Purpose Youth and Sport Facility in the wee hours of February 10 when he was crowned King of the Rock at the National Stickfighting Finals. 

A winner of multiple King of the Rock titles, John secured the 2026 crown by dethroning 2025 champ Anderson Marcano in a tense finale, which saw neither bois (stick) fighter drawing any blood in the heat of the six-minute battle. When the judges tallied, John was adjudged the winner as he walked away with a $20,000 prize. 

In an equally gripping semifinal bout, John wielded his bois to good effect when he drew blood against the aggressive Keegan Taylor to progress to the final. Earlier, to start the King of the Rock competition, Taylor outlasted four-time King of the Rock champ O’Neil Odle in a heavyweight clash that saw both fighters leaving no stone unturned as they sought blood. Taylor won their bout as one of his blows “buss” the head of the strapping Odle. 

Taylor placed third and earned a $10,000 prize, with the second-placed Marcano bagging $15,000. 

The five-man King of the Rock competition wasn’t the only spectacle on the evening, as the healthy crowd also witnessed the team battle that was won by the Rio Claro Gayelle. The slender, but lanky John was at it again, as his three-man team which also included Terrance Marcano, defeated the Gladiators team that included both Anderson and Odle. With the team’s three respective fighters paired off in one-on-one battles, John landed a key win over Odle to help Rio Claro to the $40,000 first-place prize. The Gladiators copped a $30,000 prize for second-place, with Spartans, No Retreat, No Surrender securing third spot which carried a $20,000 purse. 

Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin, the MP for Moruga/Tableland, was on hand to distribute the prizes, while Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts was also present for the festivities.