“Full-Contact Kickboxing hits the city of Lisburn for the first time”

Kickboxing stars from all over the country stepped up the fight against cancer at the Lisburn Leisure Centre on Sunday and the Next Generation event certainly gave ProKick's Billy Murray plenty of encouragement for the future.
Murray recently launched a three-year programme inviting championships hopefuls to train with him in a bid to bring the biggest ever domestic and world title haul to his famous Prokick Gym in Belfast.
The ‘I’m a champion, get me in the ring’ initiative promises a kickboxing show every month and regular fights for competitors aiming to complete the gruelling three-year plan with world title shots.
Five nations clashed at the Lisburn Leisure Centre event geared toward raising funds for cancer research.
Have a look at the picture special from the Lisburn event

Prokick’s Jennifer Rainey, whose mother suffers from cancer and was the honoured guest at ringside, jumped between the ropes for her demonstration debut against Belfast girl Angie McCurrie.
“It was a fantastic experience, finally getting into the ring and trading punches and kicks,” said Jennifer. “It was for a good cause and at the same time it was about getting a feel for real contests in the future. I can’t wait to do it again.”

Co Down man Stuart Jess was beaten but not broken by his defeat to the more experienced Sammi Fathallah of Switzerland.Jess was winning on points before he was caught with a fast combination in the final round, leaving him a bloody nose that forced a stoppage.
“In the week leading up to the fight I suffered a nose injury in training and it came back to haunt me,” said Jess.
“It’s a pity it had to end that way because I was feeling good and up to the stoppage I was well on my way to winning. But it is early days in my career and that defeat will not put me off.”
Stuart’s next of kin Wayne also experienced defeat, losing a split decision to former karate star Paul Smith. The Scot clearly knew his way around the ring and used his experience to frustrate Jess.
Trainee solicitor Eileen Mc-Kendry Gray filed a positive start to her career with an impressive win over Kilkenny’s Marie Bocoe. The Bangor girl did not waste any time in making her intention clear as she swarmed all over Bocoe, forcing the referee to step in midway through the final round.
“I have been working toward this for the past three years and it’s been worth it,” said McKendry-Gray.
“I was bursting to get in there and make sure it didn’t go the distance and that I was the one celebrating at the end. It feels so good to get a win in the ring, roll on the next one.”


The big crowd at the Lisburn venue was entertained by four heavyweights who tussled for an entertaining all-action round-robin that lasted almost 5 minutes, displaying one of the toughest training methods conducted by Billy Murray at the Prokick Gym.
The heavy-hitters, Gerry Braveheart Williamson, Martin 50p Connolly, James The Big One Gillen and Peter Farleys Rusk will all take part in an eight-man winner-takes-all heavyweight competition later in the year. Rusk and Connolly will compete in Aberdeen April 15.
Newry’s Brian Hannaway had an explosive start to his career with one of the hardest fought fights of the day on Sunday. The trainee computer scientist at Queens University, shared the spoils with Scotland’s Barry Cullen. The bout was declared a draw by all three judges.
Have a look at the picture special from the Lisburn event
East Belfast’s Gary Magoo’ Fullerton signed his new kickboxing CV off with a superb second round stoppage win over Motherwell’s James Anderson.

Lisburn’s Tracey Duggan made her debut in front of her home crowd but the 25-year-old had to make do with share of the honours with opponent Nickey Whitty.


Alana Psycho Carson came up short in her debut against the heavier Gillian Delaney. However, with the fight at catchweight Carson’s record will not show any blemishes as she prepares for her second outing next month.
The 19-year-old was much lighter than Dubliner Delaney but still unsettled the visitor in the opening round.
“I am very pleased with how Alana performed in a difficult match-up,” said coach Murray.
“She is dead keen to impress, even in training. She will be more determined against a better-matched opponent next time.”

Brothers Mark and David Bird created a piece of family history. The Lisburn pair took part in a four man demonstration with youngster David wooing the crowd. The 11-year-old squared up against older brother Mark, who just turned 15, and was in his second demonstration bout of the day. Another young up-and-coming star was Dubliner Dean Jones he also had the Lisburn fans on the edge of their seats. Lisburn's Mark Bird will have his full competitive outing next month at The Loup in Magherafelt.

Brothers Scott and Ross Jess also shared the same ring as cousin Stuart and brother Wayne. The pair were involved in a spectacular demonstration of superb martial artistry. Both will travel to Aberdeen on April 15 for competitive outings.



Janice Lindsay may be getting married to fiancée David Robinson later this year but that didn’t stop them from trading punches in a novel demo bout.

Finally, East Belfast’s Colin Malcolm, Newcastle’s Adrian Murphy took on Mid Ulster’s Darren Dougan, The Loup fighter Dougan will promote his own show on May 14 at the Loup Magherafelt but before then he found himself in hot bother in a full on sparring session with Adrian ‘ScissorHand’ Murphy, manager of Zenith Hairdressers in Newcastle and Prokick Instructor. The two Prokick fighters pushed Dougan to the limits in a hard 3 round encounter as part of a warm up for his Celtic title on the ‘Mayhem 2’ Next Generation show next month.

A great day was had by all - 24 fighters and five nations all doing their bit to help – a big thanks from ProKick to all of you who helped out to make this a great days fight against cancer.

Have a look at the picture special from the Lisburn event

Here's the fight results in brief, more to follow:

International Welterweight match 3x2
Stuart Jess (Dromore-NI) Vs Sammi Fathallah (Winner 3rd Doctor stopped fight) (Switzerland)

Super middleweight 2x2
Wayne Jess (Dromorea) Vs Paul Smith (Winner points) (Motherwell)

Super Welterweight 2x2
Brian Hannaway(Newry) Vs. Barry Cullen (Motherwell) (Draw)

Super Welterweight 2x2
Gary Fullerton (Winner points) (Belfast ) Vs. James Anderson (Motherwell)

Female Catchweight 2x2
Alana Carson (Belfast) Vs Gillian Delaney (Winner points) (Dublin)

Female Flyweight 2x2
Eileen McKendry-Gray (Winner 2nd TKO) (Bangor) Vs Marie Barcoe (Kilkenny)

Female Bantamweight match 2x2
Tracey Duggan(Lisburn) Vs Nicky Whitty (Kilkenny) (Draw)

There’s a real case of ‘Oh brother where ‘martial’ art thou?’ in Belfast’s famous Prokick Gym, where the Jess clan all made a big splash at the event -

Have a look at the picture special from the Lisburn event

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