Hello Kicking Fans - DEC 8th

Hello Fight Fans - Welcome to week 6 of our regular news from Ireland’s leading Sunday newspaper, and what another week at that. More news on Gary Hamilton and his world title quest. And also what's happening around the country and more.
If you have any news please email it to prokick@group.tm and now - Lets get it on!:-

Hamilton - Good to GO! The big news this week is obviously that Gary Hamilton will jet out to Lyon France on Thursday ahead of his challenge with World champion Pastor Pascal for the Featherweight World crown next Saturday. Gary is in final preparations for the biggest fight of his career and will be enjoying the last few days before he leaves at the Holiday Inn Hotel where he has full use of their facilities. Holiday Inn are Gary’s main sponsor for the bout and it is great to see they are continuing to help support the growth of Irish Kickboxing. General Manager Adrian McLaughlin, said, We wish Gary all the very best in his big fight, kickboxing is starting to come to the fore as a big sport here and we are pleased to help in some way, Gary is a very popular guy here at the Holiday Inn Belfast, I believe he will come back with the title that would really help the sport here. ‘ForKicks’ would also like to wish Gary every success next week, read it here first in SP.

TV MAY FOLLOW GARY Ulster television may follow world title challenger on his trip to Lyon next weekend. Reporter and presenter from UTV Gary Gillespie and a camera crew are expected to make the trip. Remember, SP will have exclusive pictures and full report in next weeks edition. It’s not Just TV following the Belfast fighter. Hamilton is bringing an entourage of supporters including his number one fan, 7 year old Christopher ‘Basher Bryans’ who is travelling with his father Sam. Christopher is coached by Gary on Saturday mornings and has become quite a star in his own right. The little kicker has been involved in kickboxing demonstrations which were screened on Sky Sports and as been on the Kelly show with his club mate Clarke Shaw also seven.

Small Screen Week three of Ali Jacko’s coverage on channel 5 continues with action from his events around England. Tune in tomorrow night at 12.45am. Apologies to those of you who tuned in to watch Gary Noade’s World title fight on Sky Sports on Wednesday, the programme was subject to last minute re-scheduling and can be seen this Wednesday at 9pm instead. Thanks for all your feedback from recent programmes on TV3.

Non WKN sanctioned event Fighters from Peter Foley’s gym are in action today in two shows. First up is 15 year old Valerie Scully, a junior student at his Galway based Gym, travels to the York Hall in London where she faces Lucy O’Reilly (London) in a 3 round contest which will be shown on Sky Sports in the New Year. Amy Charles (Galway gym) takes on Amy Rochford (Dublin) over 3 rounds at the Ringside Stadium in Dublin at a non WKN sanctioned event. The fight night is promoted by Joe Canning which also includes Brenda Kerrane (Galway Gym) against Domi Oatley from England. WKN Intercontinental champion Owen Flatley was due to face Englishman Chris Long over 5 x 2 min rounds. However, the fight was cancelled after WKN kickboxing officials reported that Long is actually an experienced professional who currently holds the WKN British Super Welterweight title and the European crown in another federation. He has faced high calibre opponents such as - Gary Hamilton who beat the English man on points. Long went on to pick up a WKN title after beating Scotland’s former World Champion Jan Cree unanimously on points. The WKN have lodged an investigation to why this match was made in the first place.

Events for the New Year Promoter’s in the UK & Ireland are already clubbing together and booking dates for the New Year. Peter Foley has so far confirmed two dates on bank Holiday weekend’s in Leisureland, Galway on Sunday 4th May and Sunday October 26th. Billy Murray has released plans for his first event which will be a black tie dinner event in the Holiday Inn Belfast on Friday 31st January. The event is to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his Prokick club in Wilgar street. Two bouts are planned, however there is a possibility the bouts may be replaced with a film show with footage of the clubs history from the past decade. Keep an eye on the Prokick web-site www.prokick.com

Grading Prokick would like to congratulate all the adult members who were successful in their quest for kickboxing excellence at the adult Grading at the clubs headquarters last Sunday. A kids grading for all levels is taking place today. Students taking part should be at the club for no later than 10.45am and must have received permission from their own club instructor to take part.

WKN NEWS WKN World President Stephane Cabrera has a busy time this week as he is supervising four shows in four countries in as many days. He took time out of his busy schedule to tell us at ForKick that there is to be a crack down on the growing problem of unrecognised instructors coaching diluted derivatives of the sport, as he is to launch of WKN Cardio Kickboxing. The WKN office has appointed former World Champion Mr Carl Emery, He will be running several Cardio Kickboxing Seminars each year including one in Ireland, however the first is taking place in Geneva in January. Carl is no stranger to Ireland, having officiated on many major Championship shows in Belfast and is looking forward to coming for a Seminar in the New Year. “I am delighted with my appointment. For some time now this has been a problem, not only in Ireland, but all across the World” he said. “People are being fooled into thinking they are learning kickboxing or diluted forms, when actually they aren’t. Kickboxing itself is probably the one of the best Martial Arts for Cardio Vascular exercise and it is disappointing to see what has been happening”. Well keep you informed The Regional office for the UK & Ireland has requested that all WKN fighters are to send renewed medial papers to the Licensing officer Robin Stewart by the 31st of January. This is part of the strict precautions they take every year with fighters. If the papers are not received the fighters will be assumed unfit to fight.

New club The new Prokick Gym opening in Bangor in January will be running twice a week on Monday and Thursday evenings between 6-7pm starting 13th & 16th. If you are interested in taking up kickboxing or know someone who wants to get started, please contact Prokick headquarters Tel. 028 90 651074.
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.

Well that's it for the week 6 of the People kickboxing news column,. Next week make sure you buy your People for all the latest news hot of the press on Gary Hamilton's world title shot from France.

If you have any information on kickboxing or want to check out any further news on the sport check it out by logging on to www.prokick.com

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