K.J. Noons loves to surprise people.

Whether it be a sudden knockout of an opponent in the ring, or training for two professional sports at the same time, Noons is game.

Noons — who was raised in Kailua, Kona, but now resides in San Diego — is a world champion in the sport of mixed martial arts and a rising contender in professional boxing.

"I have a passion for both," said Noons, 25. "A lot of people told me I couldn't do both, but I'm doing it."

Noons is the lightweight (160 pounds) world champion of the EliteXC mixed martial arts organization. He defeated California's Nick Diaz for the title last month in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Noons was awarded the victory when the referee stopped the bout after the first round due to cuts above both of Diaz's eyes. Diaz and his coaches argued that the bout was stopped prematurely, but Noons disagrees.

"Why don't you ask his plastic surgeon?" Noons said, referring to the surgery Diaz had after the bout to repair scar tissue around his eyes.

Noons has a professional mixed martial arts record of 6-2, with all six of his victories via knockout or referee stoppage. Still, he was supposed to be "the opponent" for Diaz, who entered the bout as a more recognized name in the sport.

"I know (EliteXC) had an idea of making Diaz their champion, and I was brought in to be the opponent," said Noons, whose initials stand for Karl James. "The cards were against me, but I knew, and the people around me knew that I could beat him."

Noons is tentatively scheduled to defend his EliteXC title in Honolulu in April, according to EliteXC marketing manager Patrick Freitas.

"I'd love to do a show in Hawai'i," Noons said. "This is where I grew up, and when people ask me where I'm from, I always say Kona."

Noons was actually born in Rhode Island, but was raised in Kailua, Kona. He moved to Texas after his sophomore year at Kealakehe High, and then moved to San Diego a few years ago.

"I'm from a lot of places," he said. "But it all started for me at the Kona Boxing Club. That little gym is where I first learned all this stuff."

Noons said one of his dream plans is to build new boxing/MMA gyms for children on the Big Island and O'ahu.

"The gym I grew up in still looks the same — same equipment and stuff," he said. "I'd really like to do some type of a non-profit gym for the kids. Make it nice and they can go for free."

Before that, and before he defends his EliteXC championship, there is the matter of his other sport.

Noons is 7-1 as a professional boxer, and is training for a bout in late January or early February.

While boxing and MMA might appear similar on the surface, Noons said he trains differently for each sport.

"When I know I have a boxing match coming up, I just focus on boxing," he said. "And when I have a MMA match coming up, I'll do other stuff — kicking, rolling (on the mat).

"The bottom line is, these are two different sports, so I make sure I'm ready for every fight. The hard part is not getting any time off to rest. It's like I finish one fight in boxing, then the next day I have to get ready for my next fight in MMA."

Noons is currently an undercard fighter in boxing, but said his goal is to make history as the only person to win a world championship in both boxing and MMA.

"I would say I'm probably a year or two away in boxing from even being on that level," he said. "But I want to be a world champion in that, too. I wouldn't be doing both if I didn't feel like I could be the best in both."

'MAYHEM' AND TRIGG WIN BOUTS IN TEXAS

Former Icon Sport champions Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Frank Trigg won their respective bouts at the HDNet Fights event in Dallas yesterday.

Miller defeated Tim Kennedy by unanimous decision in the main event. Miller dominated the second and third rounds of the three-round bout.

The bout had to be halted several times so doctors could check a cut on Kennedy's nose. Miller improved to 20-5.

Trigg defeated Edwin Dewees with a reverse arm-lock submission, 1 minute, 40 seconds into the first round. Trigg improved to 16-6.

On the undercard, Maui's Nissen Osterneck defeated Freddie Espiricueta via first-round TKO. The referee stopped the bout, 2:37 into the first round.

Osterneck, a graduate of Seabury Hall who now trains in South Carolina, improved to 5-0.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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