‘Belfast Express’ Andrew Grimason
continued on his climb up the kickboxing ladder with a convincing
performance in Geneva, Switzerland this week.
The 18-year-old defeated experienced Swiss
contender Sami Fathallah in a three round non-title clash.
Grimason led an all Ireland team to the
Swiss city taking on some of the best amateurs from across
Europe in the Post Tenebris Cup.
In a tough fight, Grimason –with
just two fights under his belt against the more experienced
fighter. With killer, non-stop fist-feet combinations, he
at times looked as though he would win inside the distance.
The gritty Fathallah held on right to the final bell.
“It was the hardest fight I’ve
had yet,” said Grimason. “It was in front of
a tough Swiss crowd who were right behind their man. But
I just kept going and knew I had to win. I can’t wait
to get back inside the ring. The promoters and all the Swiss
people we met were so nice, it was a brilliant trip I loved
it there.”
“This was a tough test for Andrew,”
said his coach Billy Murray. “Sami is a wily fighter
who has been around for a time. He made Andrew really work,
it will toughed him up and taught him more about ring craft.
The Belfast Express is right on track for an Ulster Title
fight at Ulster Hall Kickmas Box on December 22 .”
At that fight, billed as a festive feast
of fists and feet, Grimason will take on Ballymena’s
Albert Crooks for a vacant WKN Ulster welterweight title.
Meanwhile, only one of Grimason’s
team-mates fared as well as he did. Welterweight Willie
Burke from Waterford beat Swiss/Moroccan Nabil Belhi on
points. Burke’s brother Martin couldn’t match
his sibling’s success. He went down against German
Tobi Krauss. Grimason’s ProKick training partner Paul
Armitage lost on points after a gritty display against Croatian
Bashkim Rexhepi and Belfast fighter Aubrey Torr was beaten
by Perparim Bytiqy.
Tickets for the Kickmas Box , which will
see Ireland World Champions Gary Hamilton and Gary Noade
top the bill, at the Ulster Hall on December 22 are going
fast. Already, all special offer family tickets have been
snapped up.
Ticket, £15 - £25 ringside,
are available through ProKick and affiliated gyms, or by
calling 24 hour Ticketline on 02890651074. They are also
available from the Ulster Hall box office 02890 323900.
