ISKA World Championship Kickboxing
Date: 15 March 2008
Location: Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex
Photos: ISKA World Championship Kickboxing
Main Event: World title bout
ISKA World Light-welterweight title 64.5kg FC
Marty Cox Jnr. (UK) v *Barinder Singh (UK)
Winner Marty Cox Jnr. KO Round 8
*Barinder Singh was a late replacement for the scheduled Challenger John Paul Soanes who was forced to withdraw due to injury
ISKA British Cruiserweight title 88.4kg FC
Ollie Green (Aveley KB) v Richard Burke (Coventry Freestyle)
Winner Ollie Green points decision
ISKA English Middleweight title 75kg FC
Danny Elie (Aveley KB) v Paul Douglas (Storm Gym)
Winner Danny Elie points decision
ISKA English Lightweight title 60kg FC
Richard Hines (Aveley KB) v Mark Culliane (ECKA)
Winner Richard Hines points decision
Supporting Bouts
Jason Vasallo (Aveley) def. Michael Johnson (Spartans KB) pts.
Richard Jones (Beastmasters) def. Victor Esponaso (Izli Cobra) TKO R4
Craig Carter (Spartans KB) def. Bjor Rees (Aveley) pts.
Ricky Gamble (Loughton) def. Gavin Ungi (TMAS) pts.
Daren O’Connor (TMAS) v Billy Quinn (Aveley) Draw
Mohammed (Beastmasters) v Rob Horton (TMAS) Draw
Medical Suspensions: Barinder Singh (Leicester KB) and Victor Esponaso (Izli Cobra) received 28 medical suspensions and will not be fit to compete until 12th April 2008
Event report
Kickin Promotion, headed by Steve Kerridge, staged an ISKA World Championship card, at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet Essex. No warm up fight for Marty Cox Jnr. It was straight into a 12 round world title contest. He was scheduled to face European Champion John Paul Soanes from Ireland to contest the vacant ISKA World Light-Welterweight Full Contact Kickboxing title, but a back injury prevented his participation. Soanes was replace at late notice by ISKA British and Commonwealth Champion Barinder Singh who was preparing to defend his British title so came to the fight in good shape.
Cox and Singh bypassed the getting to know you bit and got straight down to business with Singh pressing the action. Cox used the ring well with good counters. Nice kickboxing from both fighters. Singh continued to force the pace and backing Cox up, good ring craft and counter punching from Cox. In the third, Cox starting to find his rhythm with some good kick punch combinations and use of the ring.
The fourth was a big round for Cox countering well with accurate punching. Cox started the fifth well with good kicking and punching and dropping Singh late in the round. The sixth opened with Cox looking stronger and faster with punishing shots, Singh trying to weather the storm got wobbled again late in the round. Cox showing his class move up through the gears and finding the target at will, Singh heart keeping him in the fight he dug deep to finish the seventh. In the eighth round Cox realising he could finish the job, countered well and finished the fight off with a hook kick off his back foot, sending Singh to the canvas again. The referee calling a halt to the fight. The new ISKA Light Welterweight Champion of the World Marty Cox Jnr. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait so long for his next fight.
Local favourite Ollie Green (Aveley KB) made his second challenge for the ISKA British Cruiserweight Kickboxing title. His first attempt last November ended in a no contest when his opponent for the vacant title, Daniel Hughes, sustained an accidental injury in the first round. With Hughes still out of action, Green faced Richard Burke (Coventry Freestyle). In a complete contrast this match went the distance with a slow start building up with sharp exchanges at an increasing pace. Green started to edge ahead in the late rounds to win by unanimous points decision.
The ISKA English Middleweight Kickboxing title was contested by Danny Elie (Aveley KB) and Paul Douglas (Storm Gym). A cagey start for both fighters both looking to find their range. Elie applied himself in the fourth piling on the pressure to force an eight count. But Douglas came back to win a share of the fifth and final round, Elie had done enough to win a majority points decision.
In a prestige bout over seven rounds Jason Vassallo (Aveley KB) faced Michael Johnson (Spartan Fighting Arts). Good opening round from Vassallo edging the first. Round two was much the same as the first with good kickboxing from both fighters. Vassallo chose round five to step up a gear sin the seventh and final round Johnson stood his ground a great ending to the fight, both fighters standing and trading shots with toe to toe action, result a unanimous win for Vassallo.
The vacant ISKA English Lightweight Title was contested between Richard Hines (Aveley KB) and Mark Cullinane (ECKA). Good opening round for both fighters, nice kick punch combinations, Hines edging the round. Round two saw Cullinane using his side kick well, possibly taking it. Round three very good work from Hines and forcing the pace, both fighters landing good shots, a close round. Round four was a big round for Hines using his jab well and good footwork. The final round saw more tidy work from both fighters, nice exchanges of kicks and punches. The winner by unanimous decision: Richard Hines.
In the supporting bouts there were three bouts under ISKA Oriental rules. Mohammed Rahmati (Beastmasters) fought Rob Horton (TMAS) to a draw under. Richard Jones (Beastmasters) won by TKO forcing his opponent Victor Espinosa (Izli Cobra) to retire in the fourth round with an arm injury. Gavin Ungi (TMAS) faced Ricky Gamble (Loughton) good opening for Gamble landing heavy right hands forcing Ungi to the canvas. But he still have to work hard against a game Ungi to secure a majority points decision.
The undercard Kickboxing bouts featured Craig Carter (Spartan Fighting Arts) winning a unanimous decision against Bjorn Reece (Aveley KB) and Billy Quinn (Aveley KB) fight to a draw with Darren O’Connor (TMAS). Steve Kerridge will stage his next major card in October.
