kickboxing: FOR kicks.

The WKN confirmed today that newly crowned professional featherweight world champion Gary Hamilton will not need to return to France to face defence champion Pastor Pascal.

The French man was flattened in the fourth and failed to beat the count in Lyon last week.

An air of controversy blew strong over the stoppage as the French fighter's camp claimed Hamilton's knock-out blow was an illegal punch to the back of the head.

However, the WKN (World Kickboxing Network) President Mr Stephane Cabrera, made a concrete decision that the fight was won fairly and no foul was committed.

The WKN's top man viewed footage of the championship.

"Hamilton clearly won every round of the fight and noticeably hurt the defending champion in the second, third and fourth round before the knockout blow," he said.

"As for the controversy, it is clear in my mind and that of other top officials that the punch was both clean and legal. The telling blows were done early and they had a delayed-action effect on the former champion. There will be no re-match, Pascal was outclassed by Hamilton the same would happen again, the case is closed."

OFFERS FLOOD IN: Since Gary Hamilton's world title win, there have been several requests for a first defence, but undoubtedly the most prestigious of them all is a proposed challenge for the light-welterweight world title in February against the hotest kickboxer alive, 'Petit Prince' Mohamed Samir.

Samir is probably the most respected fighter in the world. He holds the WKN world title in all three of the disciplines, Full-Contact (kicks above the waist) the most popular style, Freestyle (Kicks allowed above and below the waist) and Muay Thai (Elbow and Knee strikes allowed).

At just 23 Samir is just one year older than Gary Hamilton and boasts a fine fight record of 80 fights, 80wins, 75KO's.

He competed in Bangor in the past when he knocked out then British Muay Thai champion Dave Newbrook at Billy Murray's Kickboxing Mania II in 1998.

But is it the right fight for the Belfast boy? Many people believe that Hamilton is one of the only men around that is capable of unseating the Prince from his throne but Billy Murray thinks now is not the time.

"Gary is in fine form at present as his recent results prove, but we don't want to dive in at the first spare moment against Samir. You have to respect his talent," said Murray.

There is also an invitation to Europe's largest Martial Arts Festival in Geneva on 17th & 18th May of next year for Hamilton.

WKN International Official Mr Carl Emery is a co-promoter of the two day event which features competitions in every form of Martial Arts.

The final spectacle of the festival is Full-Contact kickboxing bouts usually featuring world title action.

Organisers would like to feature Ireland vs Europe with Belfast's newly crowned professional world featherweight champion Gary Hamilton to to top the televised event.

GRADING:The Galway Black Dragon Kickboxing club held grading last week at which no less than 35 of the adult members were promoted to a higher level in their kickboxing training.

Peter Foley, who carried out the grading with Master examiner Tom Foley from Kilkenny, commented that the standard was of the highest level and he expected to see lots of new talent from the Galway area bursting on to the scene in the New Year.

Intercontinental middleweight champion Ken Horan was delighted as he earned the much coveted 1st Dan Black Belt.

The next beginner's course for adults at the Galway gym will commence on the 21st January 2003 and anyone who wants to get started can call coach Peter Foley on +353 (0)87 8119227.

SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE: Prokick would like to congratulate all the adult members who were successful in their quest for kickboxing excellence at the last adult grading on Friday past. And a big thumps up to young Robert Millar in passing his brown belt last Sunday.

MURRAY WINS AWARD: Ireland's most successful kickboxer Billy Murray has received a prestigious award from the British National Martial Arts Association for commitment & development of Kickboxing in Ireland and Britain.

In association with www.prokick.com

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	The People (London, England)
Date:	Dec 22, 2002
Words:	701
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