Hello Fight Fans - DEC 29th

Welcome to week 9 of 'ForKicks' Ireland very own weekly KickBoxing column - from the People.

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

GREAT YEAR FOR THE WKN & KICKBOXING IN IRELAND 2002
is probably the most successful and busiest year in the sports history in Ireland. Over twenty five WKN major international events have taken place over the last twelve moths with competitor's visiting from England, Scotland, The Isle of Man, Norway, France, Tunisia, Belgium, Switzerland, The Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, Belarus, Thailand, USA, Canada and Uganda. Many major International title's were contested for as Ulster & Irish promoters helped put home fighters on the map, as a number of new champions competed on the World stage. Fighters who won WKN title this year are as follows: Professional, Gary Hamilton (Belfast) won a World title, Craig O'Flynn (Cork) won a Professional World Muay Thai title, Gary Noade (Downpatrick) won a number of Pro-am titles and ultimately a world title at super welterweight. Paul Day of Newtownards won an Intercontinental bantamweight title. Jean Paul Somes (Kilkenny), and Owen Flatley (Galway) brought home Pro/am Intercontinental titles. Vinny Di Ruso (Kilkenny), and Ken Horan (Galway) notched up European title victories and a Pro/am World heavyweight title was won by Sean Collier (Wexford). The WKN had their inaugural All Ireland championships that seen several new champions crowned male and female. Former undefeated professional world champion Paul Cummins also has done well this year with six fights and no losses. Cummins had nearly two years of a lay-off with a shoulder injury he sustained at work, if he keeps the unbeaten form up he should be in making the headlines again in 2003 Many of the events especially those from Belfast were screened not only on SkySports and TV3 in the Republic but throughout the World on many major networks. Kickboxing Mania V from Belfast Waterfront Hall in April was screened in no less than seventeen different countries the most coverage any single European staged kickboxing event has ever received. Ulster television and TV3 have covered most events from 2002’s calendar. UTV have another first when they travel abroad to cover a local fighter. Reporter Gary Gillespie and camera man Alan Mackey made the trip to Lyon to bring the results home. Irish Kickboxing will continue to grow in the New Year as the three main WKN promoters Billy Murray, Peter Foley and Paul Cummins vow to continue their hard work and dedication to the development of the sport. Dates of next years calender will be in ‘ForKicks’ next week. "There is no better time here for the Sport, we have two professional World Champions and many amateur champions. We are in a perfect position to take the sport forward in 2003" Said Billy Murray. Keep an eye on 'ForKicks'

WKN News Billy Murray is calling upon all Full-Contact kickboxing clubs in N.Ireland to come and be part of the WKN- The World Kickboxing Network the biggest and most active governing body world-wide that oversee the sport. The plan is to present an application to the NI sport council to gain fully recognition for the sport, which should elevate the sport even further in the Province. Our Southern counter parts are also welcome to get involved, however full-contact styles only may apply. For more information on how to get involved please contact the WKN regional office for the UK & Ireland on 028 90 651074 or email wkninfo@group.tm

WKN INTERNATIONAL NEWS Belarus top brass were out in force to attend a major international televised show in Minsk this week. Promoter Evgenie Kotelnikov who was in Belfast for Mania V with his fighter Dimitry Koren who lost his World Thai Boxing crown to One Mee Chork of Thailand. Kotelnikov was delighted to have the countries top political figures as guests at his event, there were the Vice minister of Sport and Tourism, the president of Belarus Amateur boxing Federation and political guests along with two sons of the Belarus President, the minister of internal affairs, the minister of army, the minister of culture and the minister of sport. Dimitry Koren got the nod from the judges as he tries to rebuild the form he once had when world champion, he beat Maksim Slipchenko of Russia convincingly on points. There were ten other bouts on the card that was beam live over most of eastern Europe.

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN Two chef’s didn’t spoil this pot. Prokick other kickboxing Chef Aaron Irwin has been involved in kickboxing for just over a year and recently earned his green belt grade at the clubs headquarters in Belfast. He first took kickboxing up to help with his bid to try a shed a few lbs but ended up a stunning six stone lighter. One year on and he has achieved his goal through his dedication and training. Billy Murray helped work out a special training schedule and diet plan and Aaron has gone from 17 stone to his recommended weight of 11 stone. "Kickboxing has been great, it has taught me great discipline and without the training I don't think I could have done it". Said Aaron. Despite his great loss he still has an appetite he is back training tomorrow night to get rid of those extra pounds gained over the festive period. "There is no way I'll ever let myself go again, once you achieve something like this it gives you dedication and will power to succeed at almost anything you put your mind to, I have for more confidence in work and play now, who knows I may even try and step into the ring some day. (I've pic's before and after, somewhere)

NEW CLUB & CLASS The new Prokick Gym will open in Bangor in January and 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. Also there's a new beginners class in Belfast which starts at the ProKick in wilgar street this Friday the 4th Jan starts 6pm sharp - to book you place please call the above number.

SMALL SCREEN Tune in to Channel FIVE tomorrow night at 12.45am as kickboxing coverage continues with action from Ali Jacko's promotions from around England as he show cases some of Britain’s to fighters.

FIRST EVENT OF THE NEW YEAR Dust of your tux and book a date at the hairdressers, ProKicks first event will be a black tie dinner affair in the Holiday Inn Belfast on Friday 31st January. The event is to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Prokick club in Wilgar street. Three bouts are planned, and a film show with footage of the clubs history from the past decade. Keep an eye on the Prokick web-site or call Belfast 028 90651074 tictets are limited.

IRISH MAN DOWN-UNDER Kilkenny's No.1 Professional Lightweight, Gerry O'Brien is currently enjoying a years break out in Austral Asia. The former champion who faced Gary Hamilton on two separate occasions is taking a year-out from work and from the competitive circuit, but it hasn't prevented him from keeping up the training whenever he can. During his travels he has trained inThailand, but more recently he hit Sydney Australia, were he is delighted to be training at the Tszyu Boxing Academy in Rockdale. The Gym is home to Australia's very own undisputed super-lightweight world boxing champion Kosta Tsyzu. "Its a small gym but great to train in, very intense sessions and run by genuine people." He said. The Kilkenny man has had the opportunity to train along side Kosta on a few occasions as he prepares for a defence of his world titles against Jesse James Leija in Melbourne on Jan 19th. Gerry’s ecstatic, "Its fantastic watching someone of that standard in training and it's inspiring just to be in his company. It will make the remainder of our time in Sydney very memorable." Said Gerry. Kosta Tsyzu has been in the mind of another local man lately. Our very own Eamomn Magee is said to be interested in challenging him for his title's, Gerry will be keeping us updated - we hope to bring you an exclusive interview in the coming weeks with Kosta which could reveal his plans and thoughts of Belfast’s Eammon Magee and Manchester’s Rickey Hatton..

HAMILTON CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO LOVES There is speculation that newly crowned professional world kickboxing champion Gary Hamilton, will hang up his kick-boots in the New Year. Despite kickboxing being Hamilton's first love he is eager to prove himself under the Marcus of Queensbury rules and the proposed return could be against Scotsman Andrew Ferrin of New Cunnick at Tommy Gilmore’s annual Burns Night dinner bash in Glasgow. Ferrin is much more experienced at the conventional game with 15 fights, compared to Hamilton's four. Ferrin has lost five of a 15 fight record, the most recent against *NAME* on points was screened on Sky’s Saturday fight night programme. Gary's manager and boxing promoter Paul McCausland is eager for the return of the N.Ireland area title's and he wants Hamilton to help 'kickstart' his plans. McCausland said "Gary just needs a few bouts to get back into stride he hasn't boxed in a while." March had been the aim for Hamilton's area title match, but it will have to wait until he defends his world kickboxing title in the Ulster Hall in a St. Patrick's Day double World title Special with Pro/am champion Gary Noade. "Paul had asked me about a date in March, but it clashes with my first defence. If I am successful we could arrange it for a few weeks after that or even better early in February would be great." Said Hamilton. 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.

Until next week, don't forget to ‘ keep your hands up and chin down’

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.

Don't forget to check out the sunday people for a full report with pic's!

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