Hello Fight Fans - April 20th 2003

Got any news kickboxing? If so, please email it to - prokick@group.tm

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK The futures bright at Belfast Kickboxing school of excellence 'Prokick'. Kids pictured front row passed their yellow belt at Prokick's latest grading last week as the humble young masters in the background look on. Junior members from the beginners class on Saturday mornings at Prokick's HQ have moved one step closer to their ultimate goal of Black belt, but there is a long way to go as many of Prokick's young talent know. Young stars Christopher and Jonathan Bryans are just two examples of how discipline and determination pay off, they are aiming for their Junior black belts soon after six years of study. However, Murray's young students won't be winning world titles for a few years yet. Prokick are very strict about letting kids compete too young unlike other clubs in the Martial arts. "The kids need to learn true discipline before competing and putting them in the ring at a young age in my opinion is wrong" he said. In order to compete as a Prokick full-contact fighter at the world renowned gym, you need to be at least fifteen and judging by Murray's success in his own career and in recent years as a coach who is to argue. A new beginners class for future stars has just started at 10am on Saturday mornings, for more information Tel. 028 90 651074.

PETIT PRINCE Mohamed Samir a French Moroccan could be coming to Belfast to compete in the next couple of months. The twenty-two year old is reputedly the best pound for pound fighter in kickboxing at the moment. He holds both the Full-Contact and Muay Thai World titles at Light-Welterweight and boasts an amazing record of 82 fights, 82 wins with 70 of those coming within the distance. Murray is currently trying to piece together the fight card for this years Kickboxing Mania event and hopes the 'Petit Prince' will be part of the best line-up yet. Murray said "He has featured on Channel 5, Sky Sports, Eurosport and French National TV and always entertains, he will be perfect for our Live show on Eurosport". Local Champion Gary Hamilton should also be featuring on the card and the Belfast man is eager to have a look at Samir first hand, according to Murray. "Gary's ultimate goal will be to strip Samir of his unbeaten reign and to become the Light-Welterweight champion". The Featherweight World champion has been offered to fight Samir in the past, but the time was not right. Coach Murray wants his man to get a few more big names under his belt and wants to see 'The Petit Prince' up close and personal.

DOUBLE WHAMMY NOADE-GO GARY Gary Noade was left high and dry again this week. The Full-Contact champion was aiming for a second World title. Gary has been training vigorously since the beginning of the year for the challenge in the low Kick discipline due to take place yesterday in Coimbra Portugal with the eventual aim to fight in the Thai Boxing style as well. However the fight against current Welterweight champion didn't happen because neither he or his coach Billy Murray received travel itinerary from the Portuguese promoter Nuno Fereira and despite all Murray's efforts to contact him the Downpatrick man was left high and dry. Murray Said "This is a double whammy for Gary, last weeks news from the British boxing board was bad enough, but this was just the icing on the cake". Gary is wants to be appealing the decision by the British Boxing Board and his hopes of becoming World champion for the second time could now take place in June, only this time in Belfast. It hasn't all been doom and gloom recently for the incredible Noade. Down Borough Council recently recognised his fantastic achievements of the last couple of years by presenting him with a training grant. This is the second time the Council has helped Noade prepare for fights, last year they presented him with a grant before his European title challenge at kickboxing Mania V in the Waterfront hall, when he beat champion Sean James convincingly on points. This money will now go towards his preparation for June, we will keep you posted.

NEW PROKICK CLASS Prokick Gym is introducing three new beginners classes in the next week. The first is for Adults 16+ at the Belfast Club which commences this Friday at 6pm, 25th April followed by a Junior class 6-13 years old on Saturday morning at 10am on the 26th April. Prokick Ballymena is also boasting success at the moment and a new class will be starting at the Dunclugg Community Centre in the town on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm due to start on 23rd April. The Ballymena club also runs on a Saturday afternoon between 12.30pm - 1.30pm at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre. If you would like to get started at any of Prokick's eleven different outlets please Tel. 028 90 651074

BASHER BOYD COULD BE BACK Irish Super-welterweight champion Bryan Boyd could be making his return to the ring after an absence of seven months. Boyd who is a professional football player has been tied up with Dundela F.C for the duration of their season, but now wants to loose the studs and get as many fights as he can before the 2003-2004 season commences. His first appearance could be at next months Post Tenebras Cup, joining his Prokick team mate, Irish Middleweight Champion Nick Baird whose bout is now confirmed. Bryan has an impeccable record with, five fights, five wins and five knock outs.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Don’t forget to book Friday 2nd May and Friday 23rd May at 9.15pm into your diaries for the two, two-hour specials from the Kickboxing Mania series. The programmes will go out to over fifty nations in Europe, with commentary in thirteen different languages as Eurosport start the build up to their Live coverage for this years Kickboxing Mania VI from the Ulster Hall in June.

BOXING VIDEO Did you miss out on the return of boxing to the Ulster Hall on April 5th? If you did and want to see the event, uncut footage of the entire show is now available. Simply send a cheque for £20 by post with your address to Prokick Gym, Wilgar Street, Belfast BT4 3BL. Video's will be forwarded upon receipt of payment. Payment includes postage & packaging.

Don't forget to check out the sunday people for a full report with pic's!

Missed any weeks, click below if you have:

<Back to the index page of the People's kickboxing Column