Hi KickBoxing Fans - May 11th 2003

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

GOOD RATINGS ON EUROSPORT Billy Murray was back in Paris this week to edit the second of the two hour programmes scheduled to build awareness for the Live broadcast on Eurosport from kickboxing Mania VI at the Ulster Hall on June 7th. On arrival he was met with news of great success from the first programme which aired on Friday 2nd May to over fifty countries across Europe by the sporting TV giant. The two hours of action from past Mania promotions pulled viewers equal to that of boxing on Eurosport and source in the inside on programming believes those ratings could soon exceed boxing. The programme has since been repeated four times and still continues to be as popular as the first broadcast. Due to this success Eurosport are eager to keep the momentum and have rescheduled the date for the second programme, bringing it forward from Friday 23rd May to Saturday 17th. In total there will be twenty-two hours of kickboxing from Belfast scheduled before the Live event in June which has six major titles, plus full support bill. For full schedule dates visit www.prokick.com.
Fights in the next two hours include: -
Muay Thai World title Rolek Kennorasingh (Thailand) Vs Yigin Osman (Belgium),
Full-Contact Prestige bout Paul Cummins (Kilkenny) Vs Michael Emslie (Scotland),
Muay Thai World title Dimitry Koren (Belarus) Vs One Mee Chork (Thailand),
Full-Contact pro/am Intercontinental title Paul Day (Newtownards) Vs Godfrey Asilmwe (Uganda),
Full-Contact Prestige bout Sean Collier (Wexford) Vs Chinto Mordillo (Spain),
Full-Contact Intercontinental title Gary Hamilton (Belfast) Vs Joel Furtado (Portugal)
Pro/am Full-Contact World title Gary Noade (Downpatrick) Vs Joseph Mukasa (Uganda).
So set your VCR’s. Tickets for the biggest Kickboxing event of the year supported by Belfast City Council and the N.Ireland Events Company are now on sale, so if you want a seat at the Ulster Hall we suggest you get your ticket now. Tickets are available from the Ulster Hall Tel. (028) 90 323900 or Billy Murray Promotions Tel. (028) 90 651074. Tickets priced: Choir Seating £10, Outer Ringside & Balcony £15 and Ringside £25. Limited Ringside tickets are remaining. For full up to date information visit www.prokick.com

DOWLING RUMBLES THE BAY Chris Dowling from Pete Foleys Black Dragon gym in Galway won the all Ireland WKN Heavyweight Full-Contact title by way of knockout in the first round against Waterford’s Tony Walsh at the Leisureland Complex in Salthill, Galway last Sunday. Both fighters came out with all guns blazing and Walsh was obviously looking for an early night at the office. He launched an onslaught of big punches to the head and body, but the Galway man was obviously well prepared and took all the Waterford man had to offer. He quickly answered back with some wicked kicks to the body and pin point punches to the head finishing with a clinical left hook which cut Walsh above the right eye. After a thorough examination the doctor at Ringside stopped the fight making Dowling the new champion. Dowling topped Pete Foley’s Rumble in the Bay Bill after a late withdrawal by Englishman Pat Jones who was to face Sean Collier (Wexford) in his last warm-up before a European title challenge at Kickboxing Mania VI. Despite the frantic efforts of Foley he was unable to find a late replacement for the hard hitting Wexford man who can be seen in action on Eurosport on Friday 17th May. Despite the disappointment of Collier’s absence from the bill, the Galway fight fans were treated to a host of bouts and more success for the Galway Black Dragon’s. Out of nine fighters Pete Foley’s students won eight bouts with one fight being declared a non contest due to an accidental injury and they also picked up a second Irish title as Amy Charles beat Dublin’s Sinead McBrien for the Lightweight belt. The event was another major boost for the sport, congratulations to Pete Foley and Event Coordinator Robin Stewart (Belfast). Pictured: - Billy O’Sullivan (Waterford coach), Tony Walsh (Waterford), Tommy Quinn (Referee), Chris Dowling (Galway - new Irish champion), Pete Foley (Galway coach/promoter).

SWITZERLAND’S POST TENEBRAS CUP Europe’s biggest Kickboxing Festival is heating up. With only a few days to go until the three day Post Tenebras Cup in Geneva two Northern Irish fighters are putting their final training sessions in before the biggest fights of their careers. Irish Champions Nick Baird and Brian Boyd from the Prokick Gym are featuring on the final bill next Saturday night. Boyd who has an unbeaten all KO record faces stern opposition against Frenchman Damien Leconte. Leconte comes from the same gym has the World famous Jerome Lebanner in Paris. Lebanner is a K-1 Supremo and is the best fighter not to have won the most prestigious event in Kickboxing, despite reaching the final four times. He is the current WKN World Heavyweight Thai-Boxing Champion and there is a rumour he could be in Belfast for Mania VI. Meanwhile Baird faces the current Swiss Champion Vadyn Lupo. Lupo is also from a well respected gym, that of former Undefeated World Champion Carl Emery who is the co-promoter of the entire event. Coach of the two Irish Champs Billy Murray said “We are well prepared and looking forward to seeing Geneva again, the boys have an opportunity to prove themselves to the rest of Europe on Saturday and I believe they will succeed”. Topping the bill on the final evening is the man reputed to be the best pound for pound fighter in the World. Mohamed Samir of France has an astonishing record of 82 fights 82 wins with 69 coming by way of knock out. He currently holds the WKN Light-Welterweight Full-Contact and Thai-Boxing titles. He is confirmed as part of Billy Murray’s line-up for Kickboxing Mania when he will defend his Thai-Boxing title, but he and coach Stephane Cabrera are so confident in his ability, Samir will defend his Full-Contact title on Saturday, just three weeks before he is due to come to Belfast. If he were to suffer his first shock defeat and even more disastrous was knocked out he would face a four week ban before being permitted to fight again. However he is the odds on favourite to add another win to his flawless career.

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