Hello KickBoxing Fans - May 4th 2003

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KICKBOXING MANIA EVENT. Top of the bill ForKicks this week has to be the launch of next Kickboxing Mania Event. All eyes will be firmly focused on Belfast on Saturday 7th June when Eurosport roll into town to broadcast live coverage of Kickboxing Mania VI. As announced this week Kickboxing Mania VI will take place in Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Saturday 7th June and is set to top all of the Mania events so far as the event will feature the World’s best exponents of Muay Thai, Full-Contact and Freestyle Kickboxing. Competitors from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Norway, France, Morocco, Thailand, Scotland, England and Canada will compete for Six major titles, with a full supporting bill featuring some of the best of Irish talent coming through the ranks. This year even more people will get the chance to see Kickboxing Mania VI. The June 7th event will be beamed live by the Pan-European Sports Network Eurosport to over 50 countries, with commentary in 13 different languages. This is a watershed announcement as it marks the first time Eurosport will broadcast kickboxing LIVE. In addition, the very best of the Kickboxing Mania series I-V are being broadcast in two, two-hour highlight programmes. The first of these programmes was screened on Friday’s prime time viewing with the second Scheduled for Friday 23rd May at 10.00pm. For the second year in succession, the Northern Ireland Events Company and Belfast City Council are the main supporters of Kickboxing Mania. The Events Company made history for the sport of kickboxing in N.Ireland last year when they became the first public body ever to fund the sport. Without the support of the NIEC and the Belfast City Council Kickboxing Mania V would not have been the major success it was and people in over seventeen different countries would not have had the opportunity to see World Class Kickboxing from Northern Ireland on their TV screens. Commenting Mr Mervyn Elder, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Events Company said “The Events Company is delighted to support Kick Boxing Mania for a second year. I would like to congratulate Billy Murray Promotions for bringing together such a high-class entry. It’s wonderful that we have the opportunity to witness world class competition on our own doorstep and I look forward to an extremely competitive evening.” Promoter Billy Murray added “I am so pleased the Belfast City Council and the N.Ireland Events Company are on board with the sport of kickboxing and are backing Kickboxing Mania VI. “ Kickboxing has come a long way since the 1970’s and I am delighted to be the promoter of the first ever live kickboxing show on Eurosport. If all goes according to plan, kickboxing from Belfast will become a regular feature on the Eurosport network.” He said Top bouts at the event include Gary Hamilton’s first professional World title defense, French Star Mohamed Samir in World Thai Boxing action, Gary Noade’s challenge for the Low Kick World title Killkenny’s Paul Cummins in a European title match, and Wexfords rising star Sean Collier will also attempt for a Pro European title – there are many other top title that will be contended for. We will keep you posted on the up to date fight card. Tickets are now on sale and are available from the Ulster Hall Tel. 028 90323900, Billy Murray Promotions Tel. 028 90651074. Tickets are priced from £10 to £25. For all the up to date information on the event please visit www.prokick.com or contact Billy Murray Promotions.

RUMBLE IN THE BAY TODAY Peter Foley is today putting on his second Rumble in the Bay event of the year. The event which takes place in the Leisureland Complex in Galway Bay features professional heavyweight action with European title hopeful Sean Collier (Wexford) bidding to extend his unbeaten pro record when he faces Englishman Pat Jones. Collier is set to feature at kickboxing Mania VI when he will challenge Vincente Lozano Ibesito of Portugal for the WKN European Light Heavyweight title. Two Irish title bouts will also be contested today as Chris Dowling (Galway) battles it out with Waterford’s Tony Walsh for the Heavyweight belt and Amy Charles (Galway) meets Dublin’s Sinead Murphy for the Lightweight title. In total there are thirteen bouts scheduled for fight fans, so don’t miss out. Doors open 3.30pm First bout 4pm.

C'EST La VIE Former pro Light-Middleweight World Champion Paul Cummins was in action in France last weekend. The Chief Instructor of the Kilkenny Black Dragon Kickboxing club travelled to Lyon where he faced the unbeaten Lombardo for his WKN European title at Super Middleweight. Cummins knew the bout would prove a difficult test having never fought over 74kg, but despite giving away weight to his opponent he decided to go ahead. Unfortunately he lost out on points after the bout went the full ten rounds. This came as a shock to both he and the local ringside fans. However, he took the decision like the true professional he is. Speaking to ForKicks on Tuesday Paul told us “I felt I had done more than enough, not just to clinch the decision but to win it clearly and decisively. I am looking forward to dropping back down to Super Welterweight”. Super-Welterweight (69Kg) is Paul’s preferred weight and before taking the bout in France he had already received confirmation he was to fight for the European belt at that weight. The bout was scheduled as part of Billy Murray’s Kickboxing Mania line-up, but this week the fight against his foe Daniel Nordas (Norway) was in doubt. The WKN regional office was informed by the World office in Nimes that Cummins was no longer eligible to contest the title after his loss in Lyon, despite the fact it was the first time he fought at a heavier weight and the decision was controversial. However after serious and according to one source heated negotiations this week, the Regional office have helped overturn the ruling and the bout is on.. Cummins if successful on June 7th could also get some added satisfaction. Lombardo is due to meet WKN King Pin Lex Easdon in an International Prestige bout. Easdon is the undisputed World Middleweight champion holding the belt of an unprecedented three different sanctioning bodies.

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