World
champion kickboxer Gary Hamilton was the toast of Belfast
last Monday with a decisive win over Scotland’s Willie
Chapell at the Ulster Hall Kickmas Box. But Hamilton’s
training partner Gary Noade was less successful. In his
last ever fight, the Downpatrick Dynamo was stopped by rising
star Wilson Snoddy.
Hamilton’s win was less taxing than expected. Chapell
is an experienced old pro who was expected to push the Prokick
fighter all the way. Having done enough to take the judges
decision unanimously.
Hamilton was delighted to retain his intercontinental Lightweight
belt. "The atmosphere in here is fantastic," he
said right after his win. "My friends are here, my
family are here – the noise and the cheers lifted
me when I was in the ring. It’s been a great night,
it’s great to fight in the Ulster Hall and I’m
glad I was able to give the fans an early Christmas present.
I just can’t wait to get back."
But Hamilton’s training partner
Gary Noade was less successful. In his last ever fight,
the Downpatrick Dynamo was stopped by rising star Wilson
Snoddy.
Noade’s fight was due to last five rounds, but that
didn’t count on Wilson Snoddy’s killer right
hand. The welterweight world champ entered the ring in a
flash of fireworks – but he couldn’t find that
extra spark to match the explosive combinations of Snoddy.
The referee had seen enough and stopped the contest in the
32rd.
"I’m bitterly disappointed," said Noade
after the fight. “He’s a great young fighter
and he’s going to dominate this division”.
The Kickmas Box delivered a host
of pre-Christmas treats for fight fans. Pocket Dragon Lydia
Braniff easily won her Atomweight contest. The Belfast postie
stopped Waterford’s Nicola Byrne in the second round
of their fight. On down the bill, Belfast’s Aubrey
Tarr beat Hamburg’s Martin Daute on points, as did
Darren Flynn who was taken all the way by the fantastically
named Human Nikmaslak. Brian Boyd and Nick Baird were less
lucky. They were both beaten in their non-title fights.
Results in full: -
Gary Hamilton (N.I) Vs Willie Chappell (Sco) (Hamilton points),
Gary Noade (N.I) Vs Wilson Snoddy (N.I) (Snoddy KO rnd 3),
Nick Baird (N.I) Vs Ken Horan (ROI) (Horan points),
Brian Boyd (N.I) Vs Dima Weimert (Ger) (Weimert KO rnd 2),
Lydia Braniff (N.I) Vs Nicola Byrne (ROI) (Braniff KO rnd
2),
Paul Armitage (N.I) Vs Bashkim Rexhepi (Swiss)(Rexhepi points),
Robert Cassells (N.I) Vs Lex Easdon (Sco) (Easdon points),
Aubrey Tarr (N.I) Vs Martin Daute (Ger) (Tarr points),
Darren Flynn (ROI) Vs Human Nikmaslak (Ger) (Flynn points)
