Boxing legend Arrives in Belfast
December 18, 2005

Boxing legend Marvelous Marvin Hagler landed in Belfast last night for one of biggest ever fight nights at the Ulster Hall in the city.
The former middleweight champion, who reigned alongside Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns in the 1980s, is the special guest for Belfast man Gary Hamilton’s Hilton-sponsored world kickboxing title showdown tonight (Monday). Hamilton faces France’s unbeaten Mohammad Samir, a world class act who boasts an unblemished record of 108 amateur and professional bouts.
Hagler is no stranger to kickboxing, having attending Hamilton’s most recent bout in Geneva, where he accepted an invitation to his world title shot.
A Big winner-take-all purse awaits the winner at the Ulster Hall, where Hagler will be joined by other special guests including Linfield manager David Jeffrey, who will be backing his former midfield star Ian Young.
Young quit soccer last summer to concentrate on his kickboxing career and will challenge Scotland’s Greg Dougherty for a Celtic light-middleweight title.
Tonight’s showcase at the Ulster Hall, which is also supported by the Northern Ireland Events Company, will be screened live on Eurosport II and at a later stage on terrestrial TV.
During last night’s weigh-in champion Samir was a mere pound heavier than challenger Hamilton (64.1kilos).
Belfast girl Lydia Braniff will challenge for the world amateur Atomweight title. The diminutive Irish, British and European champion clashes with Poland’s Marta Ulamska.
Ballysillan man Aubrey Tarr meets Scot Alexander White in a bid to secure the British title.

PICTURE CAPTION: Promoter and former world kickboxing champion Billy Murray with WKN world president Stephane Cabrera greets boxing legend Marvelous Marvin Hagler and his wife, Kay, at the Hilton Hotel in Belfast ahead of the big match.

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