Hi KickBoxing Fans - Aug 24th 2003

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Murray gets busy with Dr. Dre
Belfast kickboxing promoter Billy Murray spent last weekend rubbing shoulders with Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan and legendary hip hop producer Dr. Dre!
Murray was in Las Vegas to watch the K1 kickboxing eliminator in America's gambling capital.
"It was amazing, truly amazing," said Murray. "I was sitting feet away from Dr. Dre -
"I had heard Tyson was a kickboxing fan, but I didn't expect to sitting ringside. I was there when he was challenged to a fight by Bob Sapp. The atmosphere was amazing. And Michael Jordan still looks like one of the best athletes on earth."
The K1 is massive in Japan. It sees the very best of heavyweight kick-boxing champions compete for a winner takes all purse of $1million. It can generate TV audiences of 30million. Now it's spreading to America. Murray is hoping to bring it a little closer to home.
"It might sound boring, but the highlight of my trip was not mingling with the stars but spending an afternoon in the production area watching how the whole thing was put together. I had a meeting with the even promoters with an eye on something in Ireland in the future. There's no reason why I can't bring K1 over here. And who knows, perhaps we can get Tyson on the card too when he starts with the K1. Its alway only a question of money.

Belfast’s Gary Hamilton, the kickboxing star, is heading west for some warm weather training ahead of his September bout.
Hamilton, the current WKN (World Kickboxing Network) belt holder, flew out to a training camp in Tenerife yesterday (August 23 ).
“I think I am very close to my very best,” Hamilton said ahead of his departure. “My coach thought that the best way I could make sure I was completely ready was to get away and focus on the fight. I’m going to be in a training camp for a fortnight, getting myself physically and mentally ready. I’m going to be sparring and getting my diet right. ”
“Gary needs his head in the right place for this one,” said Murray. “This is his big shot. He took the title from the Spaniard Lara in Belfast in June, but this is a different league again. It’s a fight that will have a European audience of millions through Eurosport against a class fighter. I’m putting him into a training camp where there will be no distractions, where he can prepare mind and body. But I’m confident he can become the undisputed champion of the world. He’s a very special fighter.”

Best of luck to Larne man Wilson Snoddy as he jets off to Antwerp to defend his World Amateur Welterweight title next week.
Snoddy leaves for Belgium today hoping to pick up a Gold Medal to add to that he won in Pisa last year.
“I’ve been training hard for the defence,” he said. "I'm in good shape and feeling very confident."
On his return, Snoddy will be one of eight welterweights aiming to snap up a cheque for £1,000 in a wiiner takes all competition on the undercard of Hamilton's title bout.

Flatley won’t stumble at the Rumble
Galway fighter Owen Flately will try to make it third time lucky when he challenges for a Pro/Am World title inhis hometown on October 16.
Nicknamed ‘Feet Of Flames’, Flately will be hoping to lead Frenchman Eric Schmitt (pictured) on a merry dance at the ‘Rumble In The Bay’ at the Leisureland Complex. Flately is planning on a victory jig after he lifts the vacant WKN Lightweight belt
Meanwhile, Ards man Paul Day could make a return from injury on the undercard of the ‘Rumble’. More on this next week.

Boyd’s Football gives KB the boot again
British and Irish Welterweight Champion Brian Boyd from the Prokick camp in Belfast is returning to his first love of football.
Boyd recently took the British title from Scot Steve Kitchener, but has made the decision to return to his grass routes. The former Glentoran star has signed for another season to semi-pro outfit Dundela FC.
He will continue to train in kickboxing, but will be unable to fight competitively so long as he is playing football..

WKN expands to Iran
Despite major political upheaval in the Middle East, the world of Kickboxing continues to grow.
The WKN (World Kickboxing Network) have just signed a new promoter in Iran. He will put together his first event for the end of September in Tehran.
Closer to home, the most recent Irish addition to the WKN umbrella, Paddy Toland, is bringing together his first event. Fight fans in the North West should pencil November 7 into their diary. See ForKicks for further details.

Prokick’s Bangor’s senior instructor Diane Harvey recently made the next step to kickboxing excellence by passing her Purple belt Grading.
Diane, also an Instructor at Prokick Ards, has been training at the east Belfast Prokick headquarters since 1999 and each week gives up five hours to practice and teach the sport.
The newly honored student also has good news on the home front. She and her Fiancée are getting married on September 19. Everyone is welcome to the reception. It’s at the Ulster Hall and kicks off at 7.30.

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