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IAN YOUNG, one of the hottest kickboxing
stars in the country, is the latest addition to what is being billed
as the hottest kickboxing
event Belfast has seen in years.
The former Linfield man turned combat king will face Englishman
Shaun James at the Falls Road Leisure Centre on March 25 in a non-title
showdown.
There is Northern Irish previous with veteran James.
He fought former world champion Gary Noade at the Waterfront Hall
in 2002 and on that
occasion Noade took an inter-continental title from him.
“I know this guy has experience and skill,” said Young.
“Gary Noade is something of legend in the ProKick Gym where
I train. My coach Billy Murray took him to world glory and he remembers
the sort of tough fight James gave his man.
“But I’m the new breed and I intend to show that old
guy James that he’s had his chips.”
The Falls Road card has much to keep fight fans interested.
As well as a crop of brilliant young fighters from both the Shankill
and the Falls, uniting under the kickboxing banner, there are additional
attractions not normally seen in kickboxing.
Primary amongst them is racy Rachel Stevens-lookalike Suyin Gelis
from Germany. She will meet Belfast’s own Pocket Dragon Lydia
Braniff in an International bout.
And she will have glamourous fans cheering her on from the stalls.
Two ice-maidens from the east are jetting into the city to melt
Irish male hearts and support their female counterparts.
The pair of leggy beauties, WKN kickboxers in Romania, saw details
of the event online and decided they wanted to be in Belfast to
be part of it.
Promoter Billy Murray is delighted at the way the show has grown.
“I had planned to have a simple event that would showcase
the best of local talent,” he said. “But somehow it
has taken on a life of its own. It’s sold as fast as any show
I can remember. We have an amazing title fight top billing –
that’s James Gillen from ProKick taking on Englishman Robert
Gledhill for the WKN Superheavyweight British crown
– and now the ever growing female side has added a whole new
dimension.
“It’s testament to the power of kickboxing in the Falls
area and proof that this sport is on the march all over!”
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