A young kickboxer from Killinchy couldn't understand why his proud mother wasn't ringside to see his first competitive bout at the weekend until he heard the excitement about his bout sent her into labour!
Barrie Oliver, a 20-year-old light middleweight facing Scotland’s Graham Ross, was keen that his mum who has been right behind her son in his quest for kickboxing glory should be there as he stepped into the ring. When he asked of her whereabouts, he was given the amazing news that she had started experience birth twangs on the way to the Falls Road Leisure centre for Sunday’s (March 25) encounter.
Just days from her due date Gillian, Barrie’s mum thought her eldest boy’s big day had accelerated things and she took a detour to the Ulster Hospital. The news gave Barrie an extra boost and he sailed to victory against Ross. His mother gave birth to a bouncing baby boy who weighed in at a healthy 7lbs just as the final bell sounded on Barrie’s win.
“It’s a great story and a memorable way to start a ring career,” said Barrie’s coach Billy Murray of the ProKick Gym in east Belfast. “He said he was going to dedicate his win to his mum and his new baby brother. You know, sometimes the way you start in this sport sets a marker for the way you move on. I wonder will Barrie need the happy news of a birth to help him every time he steps into the ring!”

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