Downpatrick’s World champion kickboxer Gary Noade has thrown down the gauntlet to the Wilson Snoddy, the challenger for his title, saying he will easily turn him over in their Christmas fight.

Noade will meet Snoddy at the Ulster Hall on December 22. The Larne-based fighter is a replacement for number one challenger Scot Douglas Morrison who pulled out of the fight earlier this week.

“I will beat Snoddy, no problem,” said Noade. “He is an entertaining fighter and has a good workrate, much like me. But I’m a harder puncher and I fear no-one. When it comes the time to go to war, I’m ready.”

Snoddy has a fine pedigree. At the recent World amateur kickboxing games in Belgium, he was runner-up. And in September, he took the King Of The Welterweight’s title winning three fights in one night at a unique event in the Ulster Hall.

“I watched him at the King of The Welterweights and he deserved to win it,” said Noade. “But I was not properly prepared that night. Douglas Morrison caught me cold in the first round of our fight. I wanted to meet him at Christmas to show that win was a one-off.”

Noade, at 40, is a veteran of the welterweight division. He said he will hang up on the 22 Dec.

The December 22 event, billed as a festive feast of fist and feet, will see Noade share top billing with his ProKick Gym training colleague Gary Hamilton, Northern Ireland’s other world champion. Rising stars such as ‘Belfast Express’ Andrew Grimason and Lydia ‘Pocket Dragon’ Braniff will also take to the ring.

Tickets, £15 - £25 ringside, are available through ProKick and affiliated gyms, or by calling 02890651074. They are also available from the Ulster Hall box office 02890 323900.