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 A
feast of kickboxing bouts will be served up at the Park Ave
Hotel on June 24 as the next installment of championship talent
from Northern Ireland goes between the ropes.
In a day-long event, novices and new champions will gather
to show off the benefits of a three-year programme they signed
up to in January with the aim of becoming title holders.
Over 40 fighters, now five months into the ‘I’m
a Champion – Get Me in the Ring’ initiative are
steadily moving toward championship contests and some have
already secured domestic belts.
The Park Ave event will ‘kick’ off at breakfast
time and finish in the evening. It’s believed to be
longest kickboxing event ever scheduled by the sport’s
supermo in Ireland, Billy Murray.
“In 2008 Northern Ireland will have more kickboxing
champions that any other region in Europe,” said a confident
Murray.
“From the hopefuls who signed-up to our new programme
in January, only a few have dropped out. There is an amazing
commitment to succeed and I have no doubt we are heading toward
European and British dominance in the sport.”
Already this year Andrew Grimason (world champion), Darren
Dougan (Celtic champion) and Peter Rusk ( British champion)
have won titles. Murray plans is to offer fighters a contest
every month, ending each year with shots at domestic, international
and finally, world titles.
Former Linfield player Ian Young will challenge for a 70kg
Celtic title on June 24 , as he aims to get over his recent
controversial defeat to Scotland’s Ziggy Ferguson.
He said: “It’s great to have a goal to aim for
and I can see myself pushing hard for world title recognition
in 2008, if not before. I have had the experience of fighting
for a Celtic title and know what level of effort and dedication
is required. But to fight for a European or world title is
a different challenge altogether. It will mean more sacrificing,
more training and greater concentration. It would be something
special to have a major title sitting beside my Irish League
medals at home.”
A full list of fights for the big day will be confirmed May
26.
For further information check back here at ProKick.com
'It’s going to
be a gladiatorial clash
of the newest fighters around and all the greats'.
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