Hamilton won his world kickboxing belt in December 2002 in France by stopping the then champion Pastar Pascal in 5 rounds. But tragedy struck this weekend in Geneva at the weigh in as the 28 year old took 3 attempts to make the weight.
The champion received a 1000 Euro fine from the World Kickboxing Network (WKN) under the rules and regulations.
The fight was very a much a seesaw battle with Hamilton starting the stronger of the two, by the third round however fatigue set into Hamilton due to him battling against the scales. Kinigamazi took this opportunity to stretch a lead in the fight and hurt Hamilton on many occasions with his work rate.
The Rwandan exile was growing in confidence by the round and by the 6th was a clear leader and looked as if he was going to stop Hamilton after a salvo of punches that rocked the Belfast Boy to his boots.
Hamilton showed true grit that took him to three defences of his featherweight crown and clawed back in the 9th, 10th and 11th rounds. Into the final round and it was much of the same, Kinigamazi on a kamikaze mission forced the last round with non stop action. It went down to the judges but the feeling around ringside was that the Belfast king of kickboxing was no more. It was a unanimous decision in favour of the new WKN featherweight world champion Patrick Kinigamazi.
“Gary lost his title but the old saying is that, that wasn’t Gary Hamilton that he took the title off. It was an ill prepared overweight lack lustre champion, drained with weight problems.” Said Billy Murray
“Gary needs to decide what category he wants to fit into. I still believe he can do the featherweight division but he needs to change the diet and training routine otherwise he needs to move up at least one division.
” Hamilton is taking a rest after the fight as he has extended his vacation in Geneva until the end of the week, then he will sit down with Murray and plot a course and also find out where they went wrong. It was a bitter sweet trip to Geneva, the bitter was Hamilton’s defeat and the sweet was ProKick’s new heavyweight sensation Pawel Gorka a Polish immigrant now living in Northern Ireland. Gorka won in his 2nd outing as a kickboxer taking on the much heavier David Briwa who weighed in a humongous 40 kilo heavier than the Polish Hammer who came in at a trim 97kilo. The referee administered a standing count, before finally stopping the match in the final stages of the last round.
Two greats from K1 also complimented Gorka on his performance. First up was Jerome Le Banner, a big fight fan favourite in Japan, who told the Polish heavyweight talent he done well and to keep training. K1 legend 4 time winner Ernesto Hoost was also firing compliments Gorka’s way said he fought well and has good hand speed but needs to work on his fitness.
Click here for Pawels fight report
Comments
What a Battle that fight was, Gary and Patrick were at it punch for punch, kick for kick..12 hard rounds. Both with their hearts set on the win…,.
Well done Patrick and Well done GAry…
Super Stuff
M.
By Mark1 on 10 May 2009
02.55 What a reacion to a call from Mr Murray..
Quote: do something or your gonna lose this fight son..
1 Second later all we hear is Mr Murray shouting
‘OH YES ’ as pawel reacts….
with a super right handed punch..
Simply Super…
the beginning of the end..
Well Done Pawel and Mr Murray
M.
By Mark1 on 09 May 2009
i fought in billy murry`s gym in 1999 in belfat with gary langford`s kic tec any chance of the tape of that day i will pay any money required for posting my name is deryck fraser . gregg docherty snr fought an guy called shelden it was a great fight maybe that will ring a few bells please try and help if you can cheers
By zicozico on 04 May 2009
“It was an ill prepared overweight lack lustre champion, drained with weight problems”
Wonder whos fault that was? Maybe its time for gary too train with a decent team, or pick up chess?
By frankthetankfrankthetank on 04 May 2009