Hello Fight Fans - Feb 2nd 2003

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

HEAVY LOAD FOR HAMILTON WKN Featherweight World Champion Gary Hamilton is preparing himself for a very busy schedule in the coming weeks. The twenty-two year old will have three fights in as many weeks. He begins with a five rounder on 22nd February at the Prokick tenth anniversary dinner bash in the Hilton Belfast his opponent is yet to be named. Little over a week later he will be in action at Peter Foley’s Rumble in the Bay at Galway’s Leisureland Complex where he faces Russian born Mike Pazowski now fighting out of Dublin. This fight will be unfamiliar territory as Hamilton makes his debut under Thai-Boxing rules, will he cut the mustard. Finally Just six days later he will be travelling to Bergen in Norway for probably the toughest of the three where he will go up against Arild Mikarlsen over five rounds in an eagerly awaited rematch. Last time out the two battled it out for twelve bruising rounds for the Lightweight Intercontinental title in the Waterfront Hall, Hamilton the Victor on that occasion. With only five rounds to find a winner this time it is certain to be non stop action and Hamilton believes that in his current form he will finish the Viking within the distance. He said, “Arild is without doubt a very strong competitor. He probably gave me the toughest fight of my life back in April, but I am coming off three knock out wins all against World Class fighters and I am looking forward to giving the Norwegian fans a performance to remember against their number one”. (Next week we will bring details on Paul Cummins who will also make the trip to Bergen. Paul is to be married five days later.) Hamilton has been phenomenal over the last few months, he stopped the North American Champion Travis Coleman after just 53 seconds in September. In November he knocked out Thai Boxing World Champion Joel Furtado after just 60 seconds and in December he finished then French World Champion Pastor Pascal after four rounds of the scheduled twelve. He is hot at the moment and Mikarlsen better be ready!

BOOK YOUR MASH AT THE BASH The Prokick ‘Bash & Mash’ tenth anniversary is getting ever closer and tickets for the event are in great demand. The event was moved from the Holiday Inn to the Hilton in Belfast to accommodate for the rush for tickets and will take place on Saturday 22nd February. Ulster Televisions voice of Sport Adrian Logan has been confirmed as guest speaker for the evening, which also has three bouts scheduled featuring Featherweight World Champion Gary Hamilton, Belfast’s Ben Peel and Paul Day for the WKN Bantamweight British title. Twenty Days to go! Paul has just twenty days of preparation remaining and coach Billy Murray has even brought some help from Japan. Fighter Hiro Mochizuki was drafted in for sparring against the Bantamweight contender. Mochizuki is a true bantamweight and was chosen because he his an ideal sparring partner for Day. Paul normally finds himself in the practice ring aginst the like World champion Gary Hamilton and team mates Ben Peel and Mark Hennessy (Pictured) For ticket to the ‘Bash & Mash’ Tel. (028) 90 651074. Pay Day left front, Right Hiro Mochizuki back row, left Ben Peel, World Champion Gary Hamilton and right Mark Hennessy who hopes to begin competition in the near future.

HEALTHY HITTERS WKN Pro-Am European Super lightweight Champion Owen Flatley pictured with Dr Colin Goggins, the Director of sports medicine Ireland and Black Dragon Chief Coach Peter Foley took part in a Special medical seminar recently. Dr Goggins was in Galway last week to conduct a series of pre participation medical screenings for almost 50 sporting enthusiasts, over half of which were from the Black Dragon Club. Special thanks to the management of Leisureland, Salthill who provided their excellent facilities free of charge for Dr Goggins two day screening. Leisureland is home of kickboxing in Galway and has hosted many International events promoted by Peter Foley. Peter has so far confirmed three events at the venue this year on March 2nd, May 4th and October 26th. Check out next weeks column when will have all the updates on the Flatley Carslow World title rematch. Rumour has it that the fight may not happen. It seems Kickboxing is all the talk in Galway at the moment. The Black Dragon Club is going from strength to strength with forty new adult beginners who started recently and another new class scheduled to start on April 15th. If you are interested in getting started please contact Peter Tel 087 8119227.

WKN NEWS Last week we informed you of the expansion with the first event to be held in Nigeria. This week we can confirm that WKN European professional Champion Habib Bakir from ‘Team Cabrera’ in France will fight on the 15th of March bill for the vacant WKN Light-Welterweight World title. Bakir has fought in Belfast on two occasions in the past, once against Gary Hamilton in a prestige bout, which Hamilton won and in a successful European title defence against England’s Peter Wilson. Bakir joins other top names Mohamed Samir and Andre Alexi. WKN World President Stephane Cabrera has told us of several government ministers who will be in attendance including the possibility of the Nigerian President himself.

WKN SEMINAR IN SCOTLAND Seminar in Scotland Ireland’s most successful kickboxer Billy Murray is to travel to Aberdeen in Scotland on 23rd February, just one day after his celebration dinner in Belfast. The object of his trip is to co-ordinate a seminar for over one-hundred Scottish kickboxers. “It is a great honour to have been asked to take this seminar, especially when it is outside of N.Ireland or Ireland, I get asked quite a lot of times for seminars. I do just a few selected as my schedule doesn’t permit and I didn’t like missing my own classes here at ProKick. They don’t know what they’re letting themselves in for”. Said Murray

‘MUMS THE WORD’ Mums had the final word at the latest Prokick Grading in Belfast. Ards and Bangor mums Alison Drysdale, Joanne Dempster and Laura Allen showed their sons Mark, Ryan and Joshua that Mum is still the word on Sunday (pictured). Alison and Joanne both completed their orange belt grades and Laura her Yellow all three boys were also successful and received their Yellow belts. Congratulations to all who took part including Kathrine Day daughter of Intercontinental Champion Paul, nothing like keeping it in the family. They are all instructed by Ards Head Instructor Gail Hagan who has recently opened a new Prokick Club in Bangor. If you are interested in getting started in either of the two clubs please contact Prokick Tel. (028) 90 651074

SMALL SCREEN Tune in to Channel 5 tomorrow night at 12.05am as kickboxing coverage continues with action from Ali Jacko's promotions from around England as he show cases some of Britain’s to fighters. That’s it for another brief look at the world of kickboxing - ‘ keep your hands up and chin down’ If you have any information on kickboxing send it to the above email address or check out any further news on the sport by click-box to www.ProKick.com

If you are interested of joining the WKN, contact the regional office Tel. 028 90 651074 or if you have a information on kickboxing drop us an email to the above address.

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