Fight Night @ Starlite - Sunday 26th 2003

Results

The Date, October 26th 2003 at a sell out Starlite venue in Leicester, it was that time of the year again for the kickboxing world to brace itself as Leicester Kickboxing promoted another action packed fight night at the Starlite and this time was by no means any exception to what has now come to be known as an exciting and exhilarating show
The capacity crowd of 900+ were in for a treat as this time round saw 5 title fights as well as a mixture of Kickboxing, Thai Boxing and K-1 Rules competition with fighters coming from far and wide to do battle in front of an electrifying audience.

3 x 1.5 minute junior bout
Fight 1. Natasha Wilson (Leicester KB) vs Danielle Bestwicke (Sandiacre KB)

Both fighters had an even start with Danielle Bestwicke catching Natasha early however; Natasha Wilson did well to turn the fight around to dictate the pace with good combinations.
Round two saw both fighters keeping a good distance between each other however, Wilson maintained her edge as she cornered Bestwicke and worked a series of good punch and kick combinations. It was much of the same story in the third and final round as Bestwicke tried her best however Wilson proved too dominant and earned a points victory.

3 x 1.5 minute junior bout
Fight 2. Harjinder Singh (Leicester KB) Vs Scott Mosely (Bulldog Gym)

Mosely opens the fight with his hands however Singh maintains his composure and replies with strong body shots. Singh keeps up the pace by landing jabs and the occasional head kick. Mosely retaliates with good kicks however, Singh's work rate is too much for Mosely who tries to keep Singh at distance with kicks but Singh closes the distance and works body shot combinations which was enough for to earn the promising junior the win.

3 x 1.5 minute junior bout
Fight 3. Kelly Murray (Leicester KB) vs Lisa Doncaster (Grantham)

Early on in the fight, Lisa catches Murray with a blow after the referee called time out but unaffected by this, Murray keeps her cool and shows her experience and ring maturity as she boxes well, cleanly landing her shots including some graceful yet stinging kicks. Doncaster applies pressure to Murray at the end of the first round however, despite Doncaster keeping up the pressure early on, Murray shows impressive skill on the back foot and lands left labs and left leg combinations. Kelly Murray than went on to drop Doncaster who was unable to continue giving Leicester's Kelly Murray the win by stoppage.

3 x 2 Pro Am Title bout
Fight 4. Karlbir Singh (Leicester KB) vs Tony McQuade (Peterborough)

Junior Star Karlbir Sing aimed to impress infront of his home audience as he contested for a junior pro am title against Tony McQuade of Peterborough. The fight was very one sided and ended in the first round after Singh delivered a punishing array of punches which was enough to force McQuade to take an 8 count who was again dropped after a powerful jab to the face which allowed referee, John Blackledge, to stop the fight and award the descision and the Pro Am title to Karlbir Singh.

3 x 1.5 Senior Full Contact Bout
Fight 5. Jon Coates (Leicester KB) vs James Bath (Swindon)

The first senior bout of the night saw Swindon's James Bath take on Leicester's Jon Coates. Both fighters started with strong boxing however, Coates proved to be more aggressive, forcing Bath into the corner and absorb punishment. Bath landed some good hooks into the head of Coates but Coates retaliated, ending the first round with strong body shots. Round two opened with a composed Coates dictating the fight. Both fighters engaged in some classy boxing however Coates delivered a flurry of punches finishing with a kick which made Bath take an 8 count. Coates continued to dominate the fight and won a points victory.

3 x 2 Senior Full Contact Bout
Fight 6. Ged Carvel (Leicester Kickboxing) Vs Andy Mew (Sandiacre)

Looking like a war of attrition on the part of both fighters, Carvel and Mew engaged in strong start to the contest. However Carvel battled strong delivering heavy punches. Mew, doing well to keep Carvel at distance with front kicks, was unlucky and was on the receiving end of Carvel's powerful hands which saw Mew taking a count in the first round.
The Second round saw both fighters working more kicks in their arsenal which worked to Carvel's advantage as he caught Mew with a clinical side kick. Mew then changed his game plan and had Carvel pinned against the rope and worked had combinations however, Carvel finished of the third round keeping Mew at bay with kicks which was enough for him to take the decision.

3 x 2 Senior European Muay Thai Bout
Fight 7. Fahad Maniar (Leicester KB) Vs Ronnie Mann (Trojan)

After performing his Wai Kru/Ram Muay, Fahad Maniar started strong in the opening round with good jab, cross combinations finishing with scathing leg kicks. Ron Mann returned with powerful kicks to the body of Maniar and Mann made sure he exploited his weight advantage in the clinch where he seemed to be comfortable, delivering strong knees. Both fighters start round two trading knees in the clinch which is soon broken up by referee John Blackledge. Maniar continues to work his hand combinations finishing with leg kicks and is showing he is the better boxer however; Mann delivers strong knees and catches Maniar with a head kick which cuts Maniar above his left eye.
The third round saw Mann apply pressure in the clinch and landing more punches than Maniar which was enough to earn him a close win on points.

3 x 2 Senior Full Contact Bout
Fight 8. Kranjit Gill (Leicester KB) Vs Jamie McPherson (Peterborough)

The fight started with both fighters measuring each other with kicks and pacing themselves early on. McPherson working kicks and punches in combination to good effect. Gill looking to close the distance is kept away with kicks however manages to edge inside and work body shots which forces McPherson to hold onto Gill. Gill not allowing the break up to affect his rhythm carries on boxing, landing two solid jabs which make McPherson take an 8 count at the end of round 2 and it was the jab again that was enough to stop McPherson in the third round making Kranjit Gill the victor.

Fight 9, K-1 Rules Fight
Simon Dore (Leicester KB) Vs Cipher Shayaam (Birmingham)

World Champion Simon Dore gave away over 30kg against Birmingham's Cipher Shayaam in this K-1 rules bout. Cipher's game plan looked to be to chop the legs of Dore however, Dore used his speed to his advantage working in and out and around Shayaam with quick, powerful punch combinations. Dore was throwing perfectly timed combinations with a good success rate, landing bruising uppercuts to the chin of Shayaam however Shayaam showed he was taken the punches well urging Dore to strike him some more. Shayaam was not keen on allowing Dore to punish him with the barrages of punches that Dore was coming forward with and was eager to get Dore in the clinch and knee the thighs of Dore. Dore looked as though his lead leg was about to give way however he carried on displaying combinations of punches to the body and to the head of Shayaam as well as a spinning hook kick.
By the third round both fighters looked slightly fatigued however Dore maintained pressure thanks to the roaring crowd shouting their support. He carried on with his relentless attack using his hands and won a clear decision.

Fight 10. ISKA English Title Fight
Curtis Valentine (Nottingham) Vs Ricky Wood (Matlock)

Both Fighters started out strong, Valentine predictably charging out with a kick and powerful, swinging punches which were landing. Wood came back with an array of kicks however, Valentine, not to be out done by Wood's kicking skills lands a jump spinning back kick but then resorts back to his aggressive boxing style which was enough to give him the first round as he sent Ricky Wood crashing to the canvas in the first round.
The second round started with Valentine on the assault. Wood kept a tight guard, soaking up punishment and coming back in the later rounds by keeping Valentine away with his kicks and managing to score with the majority of the kicks he had thrown which was enough to see Ricky Wood win the fight by a split decision.

Fight 11. ISKA Midland Area Title Fight
Grahame Smith (Leicester KB) Vs Andy Pollard (T.K. Kickboxing)

A shaky start for the home boy, Grahame Smith as Pollard came out strong with jabs and crosses, forcing Smith to cover up. Smith continued to take punishment in the second round occasionally coming back with jab, cross combinations. Pollard landing some stinging kicks and heavy right crosses.
The third round however saw Smith wake up like a phoenix from the flames as he switched on completely and stepped up a gear, landing kicks to the body and strong hands to the head which seemed to Rock pollard. Pollard was given the count and Smith was crowned the ISKA Midland area champion in a display of true heart and spirit.

Fight 12. ISKA English Title Fight
Richard Hackney (Sandiacre KB) Vs Simon Caldwell (Bulldog Gym)

Both Fighters opened the fight with a slow pace, exchanging kicks with Hackney trying to land spinning kicks which were not getting through on the night. Hackney decided to try another spinning kick in the second round but he was caught on the chin with a front kick from Coldwell. Both fighters were worked single shots for most of the fight however the pace was stepped up in the final round with Hackney landing some hard kicks and Caldwell coming back with boxing combinations. Both fighters were awarded a draw.

Fight 13. ISKA Midland Area Title Fight
Ian Jarroms (Leicester KB) Vs Gary Taylor (Grantham)

An exciting fight from the onset as both fighters exchanged strong kicks. Jarroms went on to work on Taylor's body with stinging hooks and devastating punches however Taylor came back equally impressive with his own notable boxing. Jarroms did well to cover up and absorb Taylor's punches. Both fighters continued the pattern, Jarroms working hard to Taylor's body and Taylor replying with Jabs, Crosses and uppercuts. It was difficult to separate the two fighters as they were both strong and returning each others shots and kicks to both the body and to the hed however Ian Jarroms could not continue in the 3rd round as he had sustained an injury to his hand wand had to forfeit the match seeing Grantham's Gary Taylor as the Midlands Area Champion for his weight class.

Fight 14. ISKA Midland Area Title Fight
Barinder Singh (Leicester kickboxing) Vs Wayne Dunicliff (Sandiacre KB)

Dunicliff started aggressively as he came out charging at Singh with an onslough of punches however, Singh came back with his own flurry of punches which seemed to damage Dunicliff as he had little in reply. Duniclff was taken on a tour of the ring as Singh seemed to work on him in every corner, working hard shots to the body and to the head, finishing off the combination with jump spinning back kicks. Dunicliff was made to take a standing count twice in the first round and in the second it was much of the same story as the crowd were on their feet and the atmosphere in the venue completely electric as they onlookers watch Sing break down Dunnicliff's defence with awesome punches. It was obvious that Singh had a point to prove and was hungry to regain his Midland Area title which he had lost earlier this year. Singh rocked Dunicliff with a heavy blow which caused Dunicliff to go down and that was enough for the referee to stop the fight and award the fight and the title to the Midland Area Champion, Barinder Singh.