ProKick's rising kickboxing star Andrew Grimason won in emphatic style at the weekend with a first round stoppage of Belgian champion Tom Vansteenkiste.
The 20-year-old British super welterweight champ took just 40 seconds to dispatch the more experienced man - fighting in his native Harebelke. And again it was Grimason’s deadly left that did it.

A first shuddering blow to his opponent’s body forced a standing count, while a second saw Vansteenkiste’s corner throw in the towel rather than see their man take any more punishment.
“That was an incredible display,” said Grimason’s coach Billy Murray. “Andrew has a great record and is currently the best in Britain. But pitting his wits against the best on the continent is a very different proposition. I wanted to see how he’d perform against a tough journeyman with a good reputation away from an adoring Belfast crowd. He was phenomenal. He barely broke sweat and when he unleashed that left, it was goodnight Brussels. Andrew punches like a heavyweight but moves like welterweight. He will be European champion by the end of the year, no question.”
Grimason was humble in defeat and even had some kind words for his outclassed opponent.
“Vansteenkiste caught me with a left-kick to the head early on,” he said. “It took me by surprise and made me focus. If I hadn’t have got my punching together early, it could have been a long night. I’m glad with the win and will now get back to training for the next man in front of me.”
Such was the emphatic nature of Grimason’s victory, that the local crowd booed the Belfast man for dropping the local hero so quickly. Grimason and his coach are unlikely to see that as evidence of anything except a job well done.
Grimason faces a busy few weeks. He’ll take part in another non-title encounter at the Next Generation event at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on April 3 and then will head to Geneva on April 30 to appear on the undercard of legendary super heavyweight champion Jerome Lebanner’s comeback show.

It was a good night for Ireland in the Belgian town of Harebelke. Andrew’s travelling partner Ken Horan also won. The Galway light heavyweight took a well earned split decision to snare himself the European amateur crown. It’s no mean feat winning a title in someone else’s back yard, so hats off to Ken from the Black dragon club in Galway. Ken will fight for a world title on April 23 at an event in Galway’s Leisureland if he is successful he will become a two weight world champion.

 

A special thanks to the promoter Mr Paolo Villani, Mr Piero Sicurella and not forgetting my old friend
Mr Jimmy Barletta ...hope to see you all soon in back in Belfast.