Hello KickBoxing Fans - April 6th 2003

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Noade Show Pro/am Super-welterweight World Champion Gary Noade was due to make history last night by becoming Ireland’s oldest professional boxer. However, his dreams of doing so on the under card of Darren Corbett’s return to the Ulster Hall were washed away at Friday’s weigh-in at the Holiday Inn Belfast. Noade was waiting patiently with his shoes off ready to jump on to the scales when a British Boxing Board of Control official told his coach Billy Murray that Gary’s license had not been processed and that the Board in London would not decide until Thursday this week. Noade was due to meet Scot Zander Patterson in a 6x2 round contest, something which has been obvious to the board in N.Ireland and London for weeks, but somehow they failed to let either camps know until the eleventh hour. The official who broke the bad news to Murray said he himself only found out one hour previous to the weigh-in, which in both Murray’s and more importantly Noade’s opinion was completely ridiculous. Murray told us “Gary has prepared for this fight like it is a world tile fight”, he went on to say “It is unbelievable that the main Board would have left this news to the last minute, considering they have known about his application and this bout for weeks”. A major contingency of fight fans at the Ulster Hall were there only to see Downpatrick’s most successful fighter, he is devastated for them and feels they have been used. “I sold loads of tickets myself for the fight and can only apologise to those who were there to see me, the only positive is that they were able to join me in the support for Gary Hamilton” said the somewhat bemused Noade. All Gary can do now is sit tight and wait for the decision from the board later this week. However, at the forefront of his mind must be the offer from the sanctioning body who first made the Gary’s dream seem realistic. We will keep you updated.

Back to Form After a disappointing trip to Norway a fortnight ago Billy Murray’s Prokick Kickboxers travelled to Montpellier in France last weekend aiming to bounce back into form at a National televised event. Making up the team were Irish Light-Middleweight Champion Nick Baird, Kris Hanna and Ulster Scot Craig Thompson. There was a mixture of success with the trio coming away with one win, one draw and one loss. Nick Baird was in action for the first time since claiming his Irish title last October and was is fine form from the off. The Saintfield man started strongly in the first landing with precision kick and punch combinations. In the second round he continued the onslaught and put his opponent on the canvas with after a relentless bombardment of punches. However, much to his surprise the referee did not issue Sheyrizi with a standing count. Baird continued to control round three, but in the fourth and final round he was caught off guard with a strong right hand which warranted a count. Having not been fazed by the blow the Prokick fighter came right back and ended the round the stronger of the two. After waiting for almost five minutes for the judges to make their decision, the bout was scored a draw. A good result and promising performance from the Irish Champ. Belfast’s Kris Hanna made his long awaited return to the ring after an absence of nearly a year. Hanna was proving to be a promising prospect before he took time off competitively and hoped to make an impact in Montpellier on Sunday. Unfortunately the bout didn’t go quite as planned for the twenty-one year old. He never really got started and despite showing good resilience never made any real impression on the judges and dropped kicks in every round of the three round contest.

Twenty Bout Bonanza Joe Canning’s action packed show in the Ringside Club in Dublin last weekend, was a great success. The Dublin fight fans were treated to a twenty-bout bonanza including three Junior, sixteen senior and an Irish middleweight contest. Dunleary’s Jonathan Lewens and Collock man Kevin Smith battled it out over five rounds for the Irish Kickboxing Federation Middleweight title and after going the distance it was the Dunleary fighter who took the points decision. In other bouts Declan Higgins fought very well and beat Fred Haley decisively on points meanwhile Stephen Byrne made short work of Alan Coffey after punishing body kicks brought their bout to an end. Keep the good work up joe

Grading Members of Prokick Gym are holding the latest Grading for Adult and Junior members today. Those taking part in the kids grading must be at Prokick HQ in Wilgar Street, Belfast for no later than 2pm, Adults 3pm.Tel 028 90 651 074

Ladies to Rumble in the Bay Fiancée of pro World Champion Gary Hamilton, Andrea McAllitser is hoping to avenge her defeat against Galway’s Amy Charles. The two are set to meet at Pete Foley’s Rumble in the Bay event on May 4th at the Leisureland Complex when the Irish Super-Bantamweight title will be up for grabs. The two met in Foley’s last edition of Rumble in the Bay on March 2nd this year, when former Irish Featherweight champion Charles nipped the points decision in their two round contest. For the Belfast girl Andrea it was a major disappointment, but a fine performance in what was only the second bout of her career. It should prove to be another close contest on May 4th only this time it will be over four rounds. No problem for Andrea says hard hitter Hamilton “Andrea has started her training already and I am even letting her tag along with me on my runs, she will be fit and ready and has definitely got the ability in my mind, but I’m sure Pete Foley will leave no stone unturned in Amy’s Preparation”. More details on the Pete Foley’s event in the next couple of weeks. Tickets are available from Pete Foley Tel. 0 878119227

Kickboxing Today Ireland’s other godfather of kickboxing Billy O’Sullivan is holding his latest event in Waterford’s Institute of Technology, Cork Road, Waterford Sunday 6th April 2003 Registration 10 - 11am Show starts 12 noon sharp Spectators: €5 Competitors: €10 Enquiries: Waterford

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