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Despite his defeat to the world
class Mohammad Samir on Monday, Belfast man Gary Hamilton
received the seal of approval from boxing legend Marvelous
Marvin Hagler, who told him to “go and retain”
his WKN featherweight kickboxing title.
 Hamilton
gave up the featherweight crown to jump two weight divisions
in order to meet Samir and light-welterweight.
But Samir proved too strong, catching Hamilton with three
telling kicks to the rib in a dramatic fourth round at the
Ulster Hall in Belfast.
Hamilton was leading after three all-action rounds, during
which Samir was clearly unprepared for the challenger’s
approach.
There will be no-rematch of Europe’s top two talents
after both camps agreed that it was too difficult for both
acts to share the same ring all over again.
Stephane Cabrera, President of the World
Kickboxing Network and Samir’s manager, said: “I
would not like to go through this again. The people wanted
Samir and Hamilton and they got it. The fight has taken place
and it will not happen again.
“I am too close a friend of Billy Murray (Hamilton’s
coach and promoter) and I do not like to put my champion in
with his.
“Hamilton is world class and a true champion but I would
prefer that he never fights Samir again and that they both
continue to reign at their respective weights.”
 Marvelous
Marvin Hagler, who was guest of honour at ringside on Monday,
said the clash between Hamilton and Samir, was “pure
class” and he believes Hamilton will rule again.
His coach, Billy Murray, will ponder Hamilton’s
next move in the weeks ahead but it is likely he will target
the WKN featherweight title once again.
“Gary showed his bravery in stepping up two divisions
to meet Samir. It was a major fight that attracted the attention
of the world and although Gary was stopped in the fourth round,
I believe that Samir was really tested for the first time
in many years.”
Hamilton said: “We had a game plan
that was going well until he caught my floating rib three
times in succession. People who spend time with me in the
gym know that I can take a hit but Samir hits better than
anyone I’ve ever been in the ring with.
“I’m not too disappointed with the defeat because
during the first three rounds I was in control and had Samir
under pressure. That gives me more encouragement for the future.
I’m only 25 years of age and I will retain the featherweight
belt if that’s what my coach wants me to do.”
.jpg) Belfast
girl Lydia Braniff did leave the Ulster Hall with a world
title to add to her Irish, British and European belts.
The diminutive postie stopped Poland's Marta Ulanska in the
second round to become a world champion after just 12 professional
bouts.
“I knew there were few in Britain, Ireland and Europe
who could touch Lydia,” said coach Billy Murray.
“The time was right for her to go for a world title
and she pulled it off in great style. In 2006 we plan to defend
the title a number of times and I am confident Lydia will
become a great champion now that she is on top of the world.”
Former soccer star Ian Young had to share a Celtic title with
Scot Ziggy Ferguson after a tough four-rounder. Murray added:
“It was a big move for Ian to fight for an important
amateur title after just four fights. It was a good learning
experience for him and I am keen to see how he responds. He
remains undefeated and that’s the most important thing.
He will step up in 2006 and with his dedication to training,
he will take on title challenges with no fuss.”
North-Belfast man Mark Hennessy was most
impressive his in low-kick style win over Germany’s
Marcel Tratnik.The more experienced Tratnik was expected to
leave Belfast with another win to his name but could not get
the better of the much taller Hennessy, whose jab and uppercut
consistently unsettled the German.
Galway’s Ken Horan once again was
forced to share the honours with old foe Farid M’laika.
The pair drew two year’s ago and judges could not separate
them again at the Ulster Hall.
Horan, who fights out of the Black Dragon club in Galway,
said: “I thought I’d won the fight and so did
a lot of people in the hall. But at least I didn’t lose.
I know I performed well and, who knows, maybe we will get
another chance to finally settle with a winner.”
 In
one of the most eagerly awaited bouts of the KICKmas BOX III
event at the Ulster Hall, Dubliner Barbara Delaney and French-Italian
model Chantel Menard did not disappoint.
However the Belfast crowd aired its disapproval of the outcome,
Menard winning by a mere half-point on the scorecards.
Menard, a former world champ who entered the ring with an
unblemished 33 fight record, was constantly under pressure
from Delaney but her class shone through when she floored
Delaney with a kick to the head.
Menard’s camp said following the fight that there would
be no re-match. A spokesman said: “Chantel does not
need to fight her (Delaney) again. She is planning to move
on and up.”
Karate star Cathy McAleer made a successful switch to kickboxing
at the Ulster Hall, enjoying a points win over Scotland’s
Adele Steinbeck but Alexander White did return home to the
Bonnie land with an impressive win over Belfast’s Aubrey
Tarr.
The pair had shared points when they met in Aberdeen last
month but this time 18-year-old White stopped Tarr in the
second round, leaving his opponent with a cut to the nose
that forced referee Bob Hunter to call a stop to the bout.
Results for the KICKmas
III
WKN World Light welterweight Full-Contact
Title 12x2
Gary Hamilton (N. Ireland))
Vs Mohamed Samir
(France) Winner3rd
KO
International Prestige Bantamweight
kickboxing match 4x2
Chantal Ménard Winner
points (Italy) Vs
Barbara Delaney (ROI)
International Lightweight Full Mauy-Thai match 5x3
Sudsakorn Sitjaipetch Winner
points (Thailand) Vs
Robert Storey (England)
Draw
International Prestige middleweight Full-contact match 4x2
Ken Horan (ROI)
Vs Farid M’Laika
(Switzerland)
International middleweight Kickboxing Low-Kick match 4x2
Mark Hennessy Winner
points (N. Ireland) Vs
Marcel Tratnik (Germany)
International Flyweight
Full Mauy-Thai match 5x3
Phamai Sitjaipetch Winner
points (Thailand) Vs
Paulo
Da Silva (Portugal fighting out of England)
'The top class undercard was a show
on its own'
WKN Amateur World Atomweight title
5x2
Lydia Braniff Winner
2rd KO(N. Ireland)
Vs Marta Ulanska
(Poland)
Draw
Celtic Light middleweight Title 4x2
Ian Young (N. Ireland) Vs
Ziggy Ferguson (Scotland)
Full-Contact Bantamweight
match 4x2
Cathy McAleer Winner
points (N. Ireland) Vs
Adele Steinbeck (Scotland)
British lightweight title 7x2
Aubrey Tarr (N. Ireland) Vs
Alexander White (Scotland)Winner2nd
KO
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