The Next Generation event - Belfast’s Ulster Hall on April 3.

Andrew Grimason (NI) Vs Lorne Castle (ENG)
ProKick’s kickboxing wunderkind Andrew Grimason continued on his unstoppable climb with another knockout victory at the weekend.
The 20 year old super welterweight stopped British Thai Boxing champion Lorne Castle in a top of the bill clash at the Ulster Hall Next Generation show. The Next Generation series focuses on novices and first-timers, offering them a berth on a major kickboxing event where a recognised name tops the bill. And though Grimason is still a relevant newcomer himself, his display showed a maturity and clinical ability that suggests there is much to come from the young man.
He had Castle on the canvas within the first thirty seconds when his left hand (a “Thor’s Hammer” of a punch, according to his coach) found his opponent’s ribs. Castle summoned up all his experience and strength to push on and managed to stay for the rest of the first round. But the bell at the start of the second tolled for the Bournemouth man. Another shuddering combination of right/left jabs and the Englishman was chasing shadows. He was knocked down by an unanswerable right to the head - The WKN senior referee Mr Bob Hunter didn't even take-up the count up.
To be fair to Lorne Castle he fought in full-contact for the first time which he found the rules limited his style for fighting as he is strictly a Thai stylist - Well done for a gallant effort Lorne!\

“In Belgium two weeks ago, Andrew demolished the Belgian champion within two rounds. I thought then his left hand was deadly. He’s come back to Belfast, training like a demon, and showed me his right hand is just as good. Andrew isn’t even the finished article yet. He still gets over-confident and needs to learn when to dive in and when to wait. But he’s got natural ability in spades and we need to keep that at the forefront.”
Grimason shows no interest in slowing down his relentless 2005 schedule. He’ll fight in Switzerland at the end of April before returning to Northern Ireland for two fights in early May.
Meanwhile, the 700 fight fans who made the journey to the Ulster Hall on Sunday saw a host of great kickboxing action in 18 bouts. Several of Grimason’s Pro Kick training partners showed they were keen to follow in the footsteps of their more illustrious friend.

“Yet again, we have shown the way in kickboxing with another incredible night’s action in Belfast,” said promoter and coach Billy Murray. “I don’t have time to focus on every single fighter, but every one of them who took to the ring deserves pr

Jonathan Fay (ProKick) Vs Kevin Slone Isle of man - Isle of Man
Winner (points)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
This fight went the distance with both men giving everything they had to offer. Although the Prokick fighter proved to have that little bit extra that caught the judge’s attention. An excellent debut for both competitors.

David Robinson Vs Vs John O’Shea (Top Pro Kilkenny)
Winner (points)
(Sponsored by Chieftan Trailers Ltd, Dungannon)
Portadown fighter David Robinson opened his competitive account with a points victory after a hard fought contest against fellow novice from Kilkenny John O’Shea. Robinson started strong taking the opening round, but the O’Shea didn’t make things easy for the Prokick fighter as he grew in stature as the contest went on. Over all the Prokick man had the slight edge on all three judges score cards.

Ross Jess (ProKick) Vs Nickey McCluskey
Winner (retirement)
(Sponsored by Nicky’s Tattoo Studio, Banbridge)
This bout was heating up to be one of the most exciting contests of the afternoon. Unfortunately though the Scot was forced to retire towards the end of the first round after dislocating his right shoulder. Both men are eager for a rematch once McCluskey has fully recovered.

Adrian Clarke (ProKick) Vs Gary McCleary
Winner (TKO Rnd 2)
(Sponsored by Sharon Ross)
The Prokick fighter started well winning the first round convincingly, but early in the second he was caught with a telling blow from McCleary which immediately put him in trouble. He then came under sustained pressure as a result and the Prokick corner called a halt to the bout near.

Stephanie Wilson (Prokick) Vs Gemma White (ENG)
Winner (Walk Over)
(Sponsored by Friends from Shorts)
Stephanie was hoping to make her second competitive appearance, but unfortunately her English opponent failed to show. She did get to show the Ulster Hall what she was capable of however as fellow club mate Ryan Aiken agreed to a two round demonstration.

Darren Dougan (Golden Dragon) Vs Paul Murphy – Top Pro Kilkenny
Winner (Points)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
The Golden Dragon coach is beginning to make a name for himself. Dougan took the points victory over Kilkenny’s Paul Murphy after one of the most evenly contested bouts of the afternoon bringing his record to three from four. He now looks forward to topping the bill at his promotional debut on May 8th in The Loup, Magherafelt.

Fran Spence (ProKick) Vs Aniko Szepesiova (Slovakia)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
Winner (Points)
Fran ‘Super Kick’ Spence made it two-out-of-two since her four year absence from the ring through illness, although Szepesiova was no push over. Both started tentatively trying to find the reach, but Spence settled first and took the opening round after some accurate combinations. The final two rounds were very even and the Judges could only split the two by half a point.

Scott Jess (ProKick) Vs Donal Gilchreest - Isle of Man
Winner (Points)
(Sponsored by Leapogs Pool team)
Call Raymond Jess to present Trophies
Easily one of the best bouts of the day, we were introduced to two young fighters with very bright futures. All three rounds were action packed with excitement, but it was the Prokick fighter who caught the judges eye the most.

Matt Russell (ProKick)Vs Niall Devlin Golden Dragon, The Loup
Winner (DSF)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
This bout was heading for a close decision after both men met each other blow for blow for the first two rounds. However during the rest period before the third the Doctor decided Russell should retire after sustaining unquantifiable ligament damage to his right knee. Another mouth watering rematch for the future.

Cathy McAleer Rosario Karate/ProKick Vs Vickie Saetran (Sweden)
Winner (Points)
(Sponsored by Esporta Health & Fitness)
Karate expert Cathy McAleer again made the switch to the art of Kickboxing. This time she didn’t have things all her own way. The Belfast fighter started strongly winning the first and staking control in the early stages of the second, but the Swedish debutante grew in stature as the bout went on gradually catching McAleer with more and more shots. In the end McAleer did enough but she certainly was not at her best – the Karate kid had suffered a flu virus for weeks ahead of the event which was difficult to shake off.

Niall McGarrigle (ProKick) Vs S Nailen
Winner (RSF Rnd 1)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
This bout was heating up to be a classic encounter. McGarrigle was proving to be the more accurate and effective kicker which made life difficult for Nailen in the early stages, but eventually Nailen broke through the defence with a clinically timed right cross which put the Prokick man on the seat of his pants. After a standing eight count McGarrigle looked unfazed by the punch but Nailen pounced again immediately and the referee stopped the fight.

Light-Welterweight 3x2 Doctor stopped 3rd
Gareth Heaney Vs Mickey Shield
Winner (DSF Rnd 3)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
This was a fight of two halves. The Prokick man started well and looked certain to win the fight on points after a convincing first and second round. However Heaney then appeared to faze out and the and gutsy Shield picked his game up working on Heaney’s already bleeding nose. The referee stopped the bout twice in the third for Heaney to receive attention but after the second he and the doctor decided to stop the contest.

Bill Morrow Vs A White
Draw
(Sponsored by McCadden Design Ltd)
Bill Morrow leaves for a year in Australia at the end of the month but before leaving he wanted a winning performance at the Ulster Hall. The crowd really got behind Morrow and on most days he would have done enough, but White had other ideas and did enough to spoil the party. It was a high tempo contest which in the end was fairly scored a draw by the judges.

Patrick Kinigamazi (Switzerland) Vs John Paul Soames - Top Pro Kilkenny
Winner (Points)
(Sponsored by graphXstudio Ltd)
This was a very evenly matched contest. It was hard to split any of the rounds except the second when Soames dropped Kinigamazi with a perfectly timed right hand forcing a standing count.

Lydia Braniff Vs Denise Mellor (ENG)
Winner (Points)
(Sponsored by Charles Bell Blinds Ltd)
Lydia Braniff made it two nil in contest against England’s very talented Denise Mellor. There first encounter was at the Lay Killers in October last year when the disputed the vacant WKN title, on that occasion Braniff was on fire and blazed to victory. On Sunday the ‘Pocket Dragon’ was not quite firing on all cylinders and a determined Mellor was out for revenge. Despite all Mellor’s efforts Braniff came good landing the more clinical blows in the judges eyes. Denise Mellor is now looking for a rematch but this time in her own style of fighting - Thai-Boxing. We'll keep you posted.