ISKA British Championship Kickboxing
Winpers Kickboxing Gym promoted an ISKA British Championship crad on the 13th March at Kidderminster Town Hall. Bloxwich hero Azza Watkinson finally made good on his title potential with a consummate performance, outscoring Dudley rival Rob Rayman clearly to claim the British title. In a real Midland derby, which was scheduled to have happened two years ago in a Midland area title bout before Watkinson pulled out injured, the sold out crowd at the Town Hall, Kidderminster were vociferous throughout, with both men having decent support.
Rayman started the faster of the two, getting straight to business with a decent few kicks and combinations to the body around Watkinson’s high guard, and Rayman arguably took the opening round. Watkinson, though, is better the longer a fight goes and began to settle in midway through the second stanza. A vicious body kick right on the bell to end the 2nd seemed to take a little from Rayman, but the Dudley veteran soldiered on in the third, staying on the inside and ripping in hooks to the body. But, it appeared, the fast pace suited Watkinson, and from the third onwards the 30 year old Eclipse Gym favourite, with trainer Martin Cope in his corner, began to take command.
In the fifth a brace of hard left hooks to the head made Rayman look a little dishevelled, and Watkinson continued to hammer home roundhouse kicks and solid rights, all the time thumping a strong jab down the centre. To Rayman’s credit, though, every time he looked like Watkinson might overwhelm him, he kept his hands moving just enough to stay in the fight.
Watkinson, with the final bell within his sight, eased off a little in the final round and took a convincing unanimous verdict and a well earned British Title.
Wolverhampton’s Kyle Williams, just 18 but already an experienced junior with a grown man’s power and strength, is an awesome talent for the future. Although winning the British Featherweight Title is achievement enough, even bigger things may be in store for the protege of former multi-champ Fran Zuccala, especially on the evidence of his three round blowout of fellow junior star Coie Copp of Barry, Wales.
Both men, with a similar loose, languid, fast style, went at it at the opening bell, Williams landing a quick left hook to take first blood. Copp, just 19 but with a wealth of experience as a junior TaeKwonDo star, gave a sign of bravado to show it didn’t hurt, sticking his chin out and spreading his arms. The Welshman immediatley responded with a series of kicks, but as Williams unleashed a burst of hurtful punches it was clear that the difference between the two was in sheer power.
Copp tried to match his man, but Williams landed a hard kick to the stomach followed by a salvo of hooks that saw Copp take a seat in a neutral corner, more for respite than actually hurt. Referee Mick Fowles issued the count and Copp finished out the round. The second and third was more of the same, with Copp trying to pick his level up but being unable to match Williams’ power, going down twice more (although the trips to the canvas were ruled slips by Fowles) before Copp’s father/trainer, Carl Copp, threw the towel in towards the end of the third round, with Copp taking shots from the Wolverhampton wonder.
Full Results:
ISKA British Super-welter Title 69,9kg FC
Azza Watkinson (Eclipse Bloxwich) vs Rob Rayman (BCCA Dudley)
Winner Azza Watkinson points decision
ISKA British Featherweight Title 56.6kg FC
Kyle Williams (Eclipse Wolverhampton) vs Coie Copp (Cobras Gym)
Winner Kyle Williams TKO round 3
Supporting card:
Mike Clarke (Winspers Gym) def. Rob Lawson (MSD Evolution) Pts.
Joe Johnstone (Winspers Gym) def. Paul Smith (Eclipse Bloxwich) pts.
Craig Webb (Winspers Gym) def. Sam Ford (MSD Evolution) Pts.
Tim Brooks (Winspers R/ditch) def Wayne Minard (Winspers K/minster) KO R2
Anthony Shuck (Winspers K/minster) def. Jason Williams (Winspers R/ditch) Pts.
George Downey (Kode Red) def. Carl Gerard (MSD Evolution) Pts.
Rachael Green (Winspers Gym) def. Ashlene Kaur (BBA Gym) Pts.
15 March 2011
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