Hello KickBoxing Fans - April 27th 2003

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

CUMMINS UP Kilkenny’s former Light Middleweight World Champion Paul Cummins is upping his weight for a fight taking place in Lyon today. Paul who has fought as low as 69kg is moving up to 76kg to take on unbeaten Frenchman Lombardo in his hometown, no mean feat, but Cummins believes his experience will pay off. Victory would be the boost he needs. In March he lost out on points to Norway’s Daniel Nordas after a poor performance, which was down to him being married just two days later. Nordas is the man Cummins wants next and there is a possibility I will be for the European title at 72kg. Results will be in next weeks column.

RUMBLE IN THE BAY Master Pete Foley is putting the finishing touches to his latest Rumble in the Bay promotion which takes place at the Leisureland Complex in Newcastle Galway next Sunday. Topping the bill is Ireland’s top heavyweight Sean Collier. The former World Amateur Champion is bidding to extend his unbeaten professional record when he faces Englishman Pat Jones over five rounds. Rumour has it that Collier could be bidding for his first pro title at this years Kickboxing Mania event in June and success next Sunday should keep him on track. A full support bill: fight fans also have two Irish title bouts to look forward to - Galway’s Amy Charles will be trying to become the national Lightweight champion when she faces Dublin’s Sinead Murphy. Amy was originally due to meet Andrea McAllister but the Belfast girl was forced to pull out due to a kidney infection. The heavyweight belt is also up for grabs as local man Chris Dowling battles it out with Waterford’s Tony Walsh. Dowling fought for the Super Heavyweight title against Craigavon’s James Gillen in October last year when he lost out on a very close points decision , this time he is said to be more confident at the lighter weight. For tickets to the Rumble in the Bay or to start kickboxing in the Galway area contact Pete Foley Tel. 0878119227. Classes at the Black Dragon Gym are going from strength to strength at the moment, the most recent beginners class now has forty students attending and is now closed to new starts, however a new beginners class will be starting in the next few weeks. Contact Pete Foley for all the details.

WE WANT YOU - CALLING ALL KICKBOXERS If you are an experienced Kickboxer and want to get involved in top class promotions competing against the best exponents in the world please forward your details to the WKN regional office for the UK & Ireland, Prokick Gym, Wilgar Street Belfast, BT4 3BL or e-mail wkninfo@group.tm We want fighters from all styles, Muay Thai, Freestyle and Full-Contact to compete on major events both at home and abroad. However, if not we look forward to hearing from you soon.

MANIA TV Promoter Billy Murray spent Thursday and Friday of this week at Eurosport headquarters in Paris. Murray who has sealed a deal for an initial three programmes this year, including a Live broadcast for this years Kickboxing Mania VI – Murray was in France to supervise the edit for the first of the two two-hour programmes from his Mania Series.. The first programme will be beamed around Europe this Friday at 9.30pm and will feature World title and Intercontinental title action from Kickboxing Mania 1,2 &3. The second is scheduled for Friday 23rd May at the same time 9.30pm. The two programmes are to help boost viewer awareness for the sport and the Live production from Belfast’s Ulster Hall in June, so tune in for a real treat of World Class action. This weeks programme features Kilkenny’s Ruairi Burke, Belfast’s World Champion Gary Hamilton and host of the other bouts featuring top exponents of the sport competing for major titles.

PRESS CONFERENCE Details will be released for this years Kickboxing Mania at the Holiday Inn Ormeau Ave Belfast this Wednesday. This years Mania will be the first live broadcast by the Pan-European Network ‘Eurosport’ – We are also please to released details on major funding for Mania VI - all are welcome starts 2pm on the 30th April at the Holiday Inn Ormeau Ave Belfast

SWITZERLAND Brian Boyd and Nick Baird will face their sternest competition yet when they take on Swiss opposition. Brian is currently Irish Super Welterweight Champion and Baird Irish Middleweight champion and hope to boost their European rankings with wins in Switzerland. Their aim is to challenge for European titles before the end of the year and coach Murray is confident they could do so sooner rather than later. The two Ulster kickboxers will compete on this years Post Tenebras Cup in Geneva on 18th May .

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