Galway's world kickboxing hopeful Ken Horan was narrowly defeated in his thunderous clash with middleweight world champion Ruairi Burke in Kilkenny last Sunday (February 15).

There were no late Valentine cards swapped between the fighters as Horan – a training partner of GAA All Star Michael Donnellan - came within a point of beating the heavily backed favourite in Burke’s last fight as an amateur before turning professional.

“It was a tremendous event to kick off 2004,” said Billy Murray,“It’s without doubt one of the best events I’ve been to in the Republic of Ireland – certainly the best that Paul Cummins has ever run.

World champion Vinny Diruso emerged ‘Lord Of The Ring’ when he came through three light middleweight fights to emerge ‘King Of The Ring’ and walk away with the winner-takes-all purse of 1000Euros. He beat Sligo’s Joe Hagan in the fourth round of their final.
John Paul Somes delighted the 1,000 fans packed into the auditorium by beating France’s Eric Schmitt to take the Light welterweight world title.

ProKick’s Michael Harkins shone a torch for fighters from prokick as he comfortably beat Waterford’s Fred Healey in their super-middleweight clash.
The Lisburn man pounded Healey into submission. Healey’s corner threw in the towel just before the end of the third. It was both men’s second fight.

 

For a full fight report on the ‘Lord Of The Ring’ log onto www.WKNireland.com