Results
Click here for a Park
Ave picture special
 Former
football star Ian Young let his feet do the talking - when
he won by KO to restart his Thai kickboxing carrier as he
entered only his second Thai-fight last Saturday at the Park
Ave Hotel.
Young, holds Celtic kickboxing titles at two different weights
and is the current British champion at super-welterweight,
The ex-Linfield star, a winner of two Premier League titles
with the Blues, was on his way to winning a European Thai-boxing
title in Italy last month when he was caught cold by opponent
Danilo Fanfano and forced to spend the night in hospital.
Two months of intensive training has now paid off for the
popular Saintfield man. In the first round the plucky Akim
Khattou, showed no respect for the Belfast insurance broker
and made it clear he was not in town just to make up the numbers.
Khattou clearly hurt Young with some very hard kicks to the
legs but then was slowed when Young Gunned back by landing
very well placed kicks to the legs of Khattou.
In the second round Young clearly rocked the visitor; the
packed to the rafters Park Ave went wild with excitement.
In the third round Ian landed a bone shattering kick that
sent the tough Belgian to the canvas and forcing the referee
to count the Benelux champion Akim Khattou to the mandatory
eight.
Sensing victory the ProKick warrior landed a further barrage
of Thai style kicks to the leg sending Akim Khattou to the
canvas for the last time as the referee counted the brave
Belgian out!
Some of Ulster’s top sporting stars turned out to see
Young in action as team members from Glentoran and Linfield
cheered together. Ulster top Rugby star Matt McCullough said,
“I had to come and support Ian; this is the first time
I have came to watch any kickboxing and it was a great nights
entertainment. Ian was absolutely fantastic, what he done
in here tonight was magnificent. I’m so proud of him.”
Young had a good rest after his last fight in Italy where
he suffered a brief set back and is back on winning terms
again.
“I think over the past few weeks I have worked harder
than I ever have since quitting football for kickboxing. To
beat Khattou the way I did was great; it’s re-established
me in this style of kickboxing which I feel very comfortable
with and now I’m like another shot at Fanfano, hopefully
this time in Belfast.”
Young’s coach, former world champion Billy Murray said:
“I said it before Ian is a natural winner he handled
his defeat in Italy in a very professional and mature manner.
A fighter either responds by running back up the hill or sliding
further down it. Ian has now put himself right up there again.
His work ethic in the gym would shame even the most professional
of athletes. I am confident he can succeed in no matter what
he wants to do.”
Our title contender young Mark Bird,
was Ko’d in the first round with a tremendous high kick
by Dublin’s Warren Betts. He topped his first bill on
Saturday at the Next Generation bill at the Park Ave Hotel
Belfast.
Mark Bird, just 16 years old, has been dubbed the “Theo
Walcott of the local fight game” But now he’s
benched on medical grounds for 28 days precautionary measures’
He lost his bid for Junior Irish title status.
Saintfeld’s Gary Jess helped stop a Viking
invasion at the Park Ave hotel when he out pointed Jan Olav
Pettersen; a more experienced boxer from Bergen Norway. It
was a see-saw battle for the scheduled three rounds with Jess
getting the nod from all the ringside judges.
Gary has been invited back to Norway for a return leg of the
Celts Vs Viking on March 3rd – Brother Stuart won his
fight without even breaking sweat – his opponent failed
to show a walkover win for the current British champion.
A Park
Ave action picture special
Demo round robin bout -
Brian Hannaway Vs Riain McAtamney
Full-contact Super welterweight 3x2
Bill Graham (Draw) (ProKick NI)
Vs Graham Ross (Scotland)
Bout sponsored by - The Mortgage group - Managing Director
Mr Simon Kerr
Belfast Kids in combat
Prokick Famous Five vs. Steelheels Five
This was a light contact team event.
International section - The Celts Vs
the Viking
Adele Steinbeck (Winner points)
(Scotland) Vs Britt-Janne Mardel (Norway)
Gary Jess (Winner points) (ProKick
NI) Vs Jan Olav Pettersen (Norway)
All Celt Affair
Gary Fullerton (ProKick NI) vs. Lee Cooper (Scotland) Draw
Bout sponsored by - Days Hotel General Manager Mr Madden
Catchweight 2x2
Mary Hunter (Draw) (Prokick)
Vs Nicola Craigie (Scotland)
Stuart Jess ( Prokick) – walk over win
John Miskelly (Steelheel) - Walk over win
Apologies to the two fighters below - they were not called
into the ring to announce they had won by walk-over. It was
an oversight by the organisers.
Oliver Murphy (ProKick NI) Walk over win
Martin Connolly (ProKick NI) Walk over
win Vs Gary McLeary (Scotland) .
Gary McLeary pulled out with an injury. McLeary may never
fight again. Prokick wishes him a speedy recovery.
Catchweight Demo 2x2
Andrew Grimason (Prokick) Vs Darren Thompson (Scotland)
WKN Junior Irish title Bantamweight
Mark Bird (ProKick) Vs Warren Betts (Fight Club Dublin) (Winner
1st Round KO )
Sponsored by Fight Club Dublin -
Co sponsored by - Days Hotel General Manager Mr Madden
Battle of the Egos
– Demo bout
Gary Hamilton (ProKick NI) Vs Alexander White (Motherwell,
Scotland)
N. Ireland Vs Belgium
Thai Style – Low Kick - Super welterweight 4x2
Ian Young (Winner 3rd Round KO)
(ProKick NI) Vs Akim Khattou.(Belgium)
Company haircutters - Gail Hagan & Days Hotel General
Manager Mr Madden
A big thanks to all who traveled to make the
event a great success and to all our helpers, officials and
sponsors - A big thanks to Days Hotel General Manager Mr Madden
for all his help - and to the men in the middle Robert Masterson
and Eddie Salmon.
Info about the Park Ave event
'It was a gladiatorial clash
of the newest fighters around and all the greats'.
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