The French were served a treat by chef Gary Hamilton
The result was not quite what the French kickboxing audience expected as Belfast's own Kickboxing version of the pocket rocket ripped the world title away from their man. Hamilton did everything right on the night, as he demolished world champion Pastor Pascal in one minute 20 seconds of the forth round. The champion was sent face first to the canvas from a blistering punch and kick combination to the body then head, and with a final clubbing right hook sealed Hamilton’s victory and the world Featherweight belt that goes with it. Referee Jean Carmal counted Pastor Pascal out to a silent and disbelieving crowd.

The new champion spoke just minutes after his momentous victory from the Lyons -den “I'm so happy I can't believe what I've accomplished, all the hard work has paid off”. Despite the French fan disappointment they did acknowledge Hamilton as a worthy Champion as he spent nearly thirty minutes signing autographs after the bout.

The title didn’t come without hard work as Gary said and also with perseverance and patients. It took nearly seventeen hours of travel to France before the big match, the team left Belfast at nine am and arrive at the hotel at 3am the next day to find that they were locked out.

Friday’s weight-in: the fight hung in the balance as Gary failed to make the weight on three occasions at the official weigh-in, but thankfully did on the forth and final attempt. Murray knew it would be a struggle to make Featherweight 60.3kg having never been any lower than 62.3kg at the lightweight division.

The fight: problems didn’t end even on the day, as Hamilton was kept waiting until 1.10 am before his fight was called to the ring. Despite all the trials and tribulations Gary Hamilton showed true professionalism which has brought him so far at the young age of twenty-two. When his chance came, he did what he does best and in doing so has become only the second professional world champion to come out of N.Ireland the only man to achieve this accolade is his coach Billy Murray who was full of admiration for his young prodigy. “Gary is a remarkable young man, as his achievements speak for themselves. He is still learning and has many years ahead of him to prove himself as one of the great champions in kickboxing history, his name is now set in stone as a world champion and will remain there for evermore.
I am so pleased for him it is the perfect end to a great year for us at Prokick Gym and kickboxing in the province as a whole”.

	Gary Gillespie & Alan Mackey UTV with Gary Hamilton right after the win