UGANDAN FIGHTER MISSING - POLICE are on the lookout for a Ugandan kickboxer who went missing on Wednesday morning. The 22-year old man, named Hamphrey Nsereko, was visiting the province with team mates from the national team ahead of Sunday’s championship event at the Ulster Hall. He left the two other members at breakfast in the Holiday Inn hotel on Ormeau Avenue yesterday at around 10.00am, complaining of an upset stomach. Mr Nsereko is described as black-skinned, 5ft 4” tall, stocky build and speaks good English. He was last seen to be wearing blue jeans, beige trainers, a blue jacket with two yellow stripes, and a black woollen hat. The man is also said to be quietly spoken, who lives with his parents, and does not drink, smoke, or gamble. No foul play is suspected, as he had left his passport and possessions back at the hotel. Fight promoter, Billy Murray said: “This is a terrible situation – the sort of thing that you never think will happen when you organise an event. “Hamphrey’s team mates are sick with worry, and are just praying that everything is okay with their friend. “I would urge anybody who thinks they have spotted him to come forward to the police immediately.” The disappearance of Mr Nsereko is the latest incident to hamper the unfortunate team in their build-up to this weekend’s event. Before their arrival on Monday night, one of the two cars carrying the team members was involved in an accident, injuring three of the competitors, and forcing them to pull out of the event. Ugandan team coach, Joseph Mukasa, is due to take part in a world title fight against Downpatrick’s Gary Noade in Sunday’s Ulster Hall event. He said: “This has really disorganised my preparations for the fight, but obviously my primary concern is for my friend. I am really anxious, and have no idea what I will tell his parents. “I am also concerned about the British Commision’s view on this. We may not be able to return to our native country without Hamphrey.”

Special thanks to Martin Mawhinney and Michael McHugh for all their help on press related matters....

KICKBOXING TO HIT OUR TV SCREENS AT HOME
Television viewers north and south of the border in Ireland will soon be able to witness the very best in hard-hitting kickboxing action after an up-and-coming television company in the Republic agreed to screen the flagship event of the sport's year at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. TV3, the independent broadcaster in the Irish Republic will show all five title and a number of prestige bouts from last month's Kickboxing Mania V over two one-hour episodes. Competitors from Thailand, Belarus, Norway, Turkey, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland North & South all come face-face in the event, which will be shown on June 6 and June 13. Matthew Salway, Director of Programming for TV3, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring World Kickboxing to TV3's audience. The popularity of this exciting sport is growing worldwide and we have no doubt that after broadcasting the event from Belfast the interest in Ireland will continue to expand".
Show promoter and trainer , Billy Murray, said the coverage represented a "significant step forward" in the development of the sport of kickboxing and said he believed television could only benefit from the association. "Kickboxing is exciting to watch , it is competitive and it is great entertainment. There is a massive audience out there, which many broadcasters are cottoning on to," he said. "The profile of kickboxing is rising all the time and the sport can only flourish in the future. I thank TV3 for their commitment and am confident we can work in partnership for the good of kickboxing throughout Ireland, north and south." For further information on all the up-coming events check out www.ProKick.com or ring (028) 90651074

Kickboxing has previously enjoyed extended coverage on Sky Sports, Channel 5 and UTV, where Programme Director Paul Clarke has done a fabulous job.