Belfast’s Gary Hamilton may retire undefeated as featherweight champion of the world after a classic encounter at the Ulster Hall on Friday night. The 24-year-old now sets his sights on climbing to the top of the lightweight division and on Friday’s form, there’s nothing to suggest he won’t make it. He faced number one contender Ewgenij Mytyay at the Kickmas Box show and though the Ukrainian gave away several inches in height, he showed why he could become Hamitlon’s featherweight heir with a tenacious, brave and battling display.
The judges had Hamilton ahead in every round and though the champ never looked in trouble, he knew he was in a scrap for the entire 12 rounds.
Earlier in the evening, French light-welterweight Mohammad Samir showed why some consider him to be the
best pound for pound kickboxer in the world with a classy, consummate display to retain his world
thai-boxing title.
The fight was stopped in the fourth round of five when his opponent Damien Velvelidis from Belgium retired
with a broken left foot. But the truth is that even had it gone the distance, Samir would have won by a
unanimous decision, such was the gulf in class and natural edge-of-the-seat ability between him and his
challenger.
There was also cause for more local celebration at the Kickmas Box as Belfast’s battling postie Lydia Braniff
ended the year as European champion, taking a commanding points victory over tough Finnish
Atomweight Maritta Saastamoinen. And Andrew Grimason retained his British title making short work of
English champion Barinder Singh, stopping the Leicester man in the second round after a barrage of
devastating punches - in fairness to the English man Singh, he conceded weight in the fight to make it happen.

Thanks to all our visitors from far and near who helped make KICKmas II possible.

Billy Murray