Three ProKick Fighters Head to Dusseldorf

Kickboxing pin-up Ian Young, formerly a footballer with Linfield, Ian Young is making the move from champion to coach and corner man – for a weekend at least! The former football star will take two fighters from the ProKick gym in Belfast to an event in Dusseldorf, Germany today Friday (August 3). “It’s a great honour to be asked to do it and also a great responsibility,” said Young. “As European champion, I’ve focused on myself – making sure I’m mentally and physically ready for each fight. And I’ve also had a great coach in my corner – Billy Murray – to help me out. Sportsmen are selfish, I think. You need to be if you want to get to the top. “But now that I’m the coach to two young fighters, I have to think all the time about them and make sure that they are ready. It’s going to be one of the toughest weekends of my life. I’m nervous but excited.” Young will be back on more familiar ground when he steps into the ring as a fighter in September. He’ll defend his WKN European super welterweight crown against German Uwe Menzzer at Derry’s Millennium Forum on September 29. The event, billed as the Brawl On The Wall, will see a host of European titles up for grabs with the toast of Irish kickboxing talent coming face to face with the best the Continent has to offer. It’s the most significant kickboxing event in the north west ever. For further details on all kickboxing news and events, CLICK HERE

HERE ARE THE TWO FIGHTERS IAN WILL LOOK AFTER IN GERMANY:

Killinchy teen Barrie Oliver is set for a busy summer as he will take part in two major kickboxing bouts – one in Dusseldorf Germany, the second in Derry city. The youngster has had an interesting start to his ring career. On the night of his first ever competitive fight, at the Falls Road Leisure Centre in Belfast in March, his mother went into labour due to the excitement of her boy in action. She was whisked from the event to hospital to give birth to a bouncing baby boy and Oliver won in some style. A number of weeks later, Oliver travelled to Hamburg to take part in his first ever international bout in front of hugely vocal, partisan German fans. Again, he triumphed. He again fought in June in Belfast and won again. His coach, four weight world champion Billy Murray, says he has come to expect the unexpected with his young fighter. “It’s never dull when Barrie is around,” he said. “He’s a wonderful young talent, he is enthusiastic and bright, hard working prospect. But there is always another story going on with him. I think he’s a dream ticket for the press. He’s travelling again to Germany today Friday 9 August 3) for a match on August 4 and then to Derry’s Millennium Forum on September 29 for two more big welterweight show-downs. I have no doubt he will win, but I don’t know what other stories will follow him!”

Co.Derry’s rising kickboxing star Darren Duggan will warm up for the biggest night of his life in the Maiden City in September with a German encounter this weekend.
The reigning Celtic middleweight champion headed to Dusseldorf today August 3 for a fight he hopes will get him ready for Millennium Forum on September 29. Then, the popular Magherafelt man, will challenge for the European title as he headlines the North West's biggest ever kickboxing promotion – a show that is being billed as the Brawl On The Wall.
“The German bout is a key part of our build-up,” said Dougan. “I had planned to fight for a British title in September in front of home fans, but I’m delighted to say that because I moved up the ranks because of recent victories, I’m now the number one challenger for the European belt and I’ll be challenging for that instead. Personally, I’m obviously delighted. But I’m also delighted for this part of the world that is going to see such an important belt being contested on the biggest night of kickboxing this part of the world has ever seen.
“We’re calling it the Brawl On The Wall because the venue is built on Derry’s famous walls. But when I step into the ring I’m looking for my opponent to suddenly getting forgetful on the Foyle - when I knock him out.”

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