Boxing News

In the fight of the night, the tough-as-nails challengers Daniel “The Jet” Zahra, from the Ying Yang and “Super” Steve Martin, from the Wu Shu Ky did not disappoint the crowd and indeed went to war for the vacant Maltese middleweight WKN K1 title belt

By Alex Zammit

The Malta Kick Boxing and K1 National championships which were held on Tuesday the 28^th of June at the Stitch club in San Gwann, Malta, were a huge success. The ‘Gladiators Promoters’ delivered what they promised an exciting fight event which was easily one of the best .in recent years.

The large crowd of spectators and fans vociferously showed their appreciation and support for the event by being proactive all the way, often chanting the name of the fighters. The venue it self was excellent well lit and the organization was smooth and fault less. A truly enjoyable and memorable fight night.

Main Event K1 – Steve Martin vs Daniel Zahra (Middleweight)

Round 1 – Both fighters came out of their corners hard, fast and vicious and engaged directly at close quarters exchanging several low kicks and blows, with the action going back and forth. Martin suffers a cut to the forehead over his right eye.

Round 2 – Martin got the upper hand in the opening minute with two beautifully executed front kicks, which had Zahra down on the canvas momentarily, in this round both fighters landed several kicks and blows but Martin seemed to have the upper hand in this round.

Round 3 – Zahra came out strong with flurries of kicks and punches; Martin picked up the pace and responded. Both fighters showing no fear exchanged blow for blow and kick for kick but neither could quite connect a KO blow with the knee.

The last two rounds added to the drama in great fashion. Zahra continued his incredible assault, while Martin increased his output, himself looking for the knockout. Zahra looked like he was close to getting it when he battered Martin in the last minute of the fifth round.The closing seconds of the last round definitely belonged to Zahra,a well executed round house kick missed Martin by inches and the plucky Martin although being battered on the ropes held on and found the strength to block the onslaught of blows and kicks unleashed by Zahra.

In the end, neither one scored a KO but they still delivered a brutal and thrilling middleweight war, a candidate for the Maltese “K1 Fight of the Year”. It was a close fight and the judges had to decide who would leave the ring with the prestigious local WKN belt. Zahra got the decision but it is without a doubt that both fighters showed true mettle and proved themselves as true warriors in the ring.

Co Main Event – K1 – Renald “Ice Man” Tabone vs Reuben “Wolf” Azzopardi Tabone for the Red Dragon and Azzopardi for the Ying Yang - battled for the Maltese light heavyweight WKN title. This was a three round contest; both fighters came out fighting from a distance and avoided engaging in close combat, both using jabs and high kicks trying to find an opening for a KO blow. The end came for Tabone in the third round when Azzopardi locked him in the corner and delivered a beautifully executed knee strike to the side which send him down to the canvas. Tabone could not regain his feet and referee Demis Sicluna waved it off with one minute to go.

Undercard – Main

MaltaHeavyweight Kickboxing Title – Sean Cutajar (for the Wu Shu Ky) vs Kevin Cassar (for the Ying Yang). The first round opened with heavy punches and some nicely place kicks by Cutajar but the tide soon turned as Cassar upped the pressure and Cutajar startd to absorb some heavy punishment from the faster Cassar. While Cutajar had his moments there was little doubt as to the outcome of this encounter and the judges had no problems in declaring Cassar the winner.

MaltaCruiserweight Kickboxing Title – Tyron Borg (for the Wu Su Ky) vs Nicky Ellul (for the Ying Yang) – A balanced fight in the first two rounds, with Borg showing slightly superior punching power. The tide turned toward the end of round two when it seemed that Ellul had run out of steam. Borg took the title on a points win.

Malta Super Cruiserweight Kickboxing Title Belt – Eman Zammit (from The New Kickboxing Club) vs Elian Mallia (from the Ying Yang) – Both fighter started very aggressive and exchanged flurries of low kicks and punches, round 2 was more of the same, with Mallia showing signs of settling down and edging ahead, round 3 Mallia found his range and started landing better kicks and blows – Mallia became champion on a points win.

Malta Welterweight Kick Boxing Title: Terence Cilia of the Ying Yang defeated a game but outclassed Tyron Muscat of the Wu Shu Ky – Cila came out fast and furious, to his merit Muscat rallied against the onslaught to answer back with some well executed kicks and punches but Cilia showed superior ring skills and the judges gave him victory on points.

Undercard – Non Title – Full Protection Gear.

• Alan Ellul of the Ying Yang defeated Clayton Portelli of the Wu Shu Ky on points.
• Lorna Mifsud of the Wu shy Ky defeated Jessie Davey of the Yin Yang on points
• Andrew Hillsden of the Ying Yang defeated Joseph Fenech of the Wu Shu Ky on Points

The Hillsden vs Fenech fight is worth noting because Hillsden is 50 years of age and he was taking on an opponent half his age. Andrew Hillsden sporting a good physique and a good level of fitness started training kickboxing at the late age of 49 and considering his age his skill level is quite good, his fitness was also tested to the full when the judges ordered two extra rounds of one minute each as they could not decide on a winner.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Latest Boxing News in Brief – 28^th June 2011 - for: DeGale assaulted in Spain, Tarver vs. Green, Mitchell warns Murray camp, Sabaupan returns July 9, WBC on Chavez Jr. vs Martinez, Julio Cesar Chavez Junior - Peter Manfredo, Alvarado returns July 30, Edgar Sosa risks it all, Wladimir: wants to punish Haye for the good of boxing

• DeGale assaulted in Spain

Former 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and British super middleweight champion James DeGale (10-1, 8 Ko’s) was reportedly struck in the mouth while at a pool party in Spain by a youth, according to livefight.com. The punch was thrown by a youth and landed hard enough to knock out DeGale’s false tooth. DeGale didn’t fire back on the youth, as the hotel security took control of the situation.

• Tarver vs. Green

IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green (31-3, 27 KO’s) will be making his 5th defense of his International Boxing Organization title on July 20th against 42-year-old former IBF/WBA/WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (28-6, 19 KO’s) at the Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

• Mitchell warns Murray camp

Lightweight Kevin Mitchell has warned John Murray and Joe Gallagher that he will inflict a second defeat on their gym next weekend. Mitchell takes on Murray for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental title on July 9 at London’s ExCeL Arena. The Mancunian comes into the fight off the back of trainer Joe Gallagher’s 49-fight winning streak finally coming to an end as Matt Macklin couldn’t deliver victory number 50 for Gallagher in Germany at the weekend when he took on Felix Sturm. And Mitchell has promised to heap more misery on Gallagher and Murray.

• Sabaupan returns July 9

IBF #9 lightweight Al Sabaupan (16-0-1, 11 KOs) will be back in action on July 9 in Manila when he will clash over twelve rounds with fellow Filipino Ricky Sismundo (18-6, 7 KOs) with the IBF Pan pacific title up for grabs at the General Trias Sports Complex, General Trias, Cavite, Manila, Philippines.

• WBC on Chavez Jr. vs Martinez

WBC President Jose Sulaiman said today that Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Sergio Martinez will be allowed voluntary fights. “As per the WBC Rules and Regulations, a voluntary defense has been granted to the new champion [Chavez] to then proceed to fight the WBC Diamond champion Sergio Martinez, who will also make a voluntary defense on October the 15th. The WBC is very proud of both great champions and we wish them the best of luck.”

• Julio Cesar Chavez Junior - Peter Manfredo

New WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez will make the first defence of his belt in his homeland of Mexico. Though there has been no official announcement yet, Boxrec.com and a couple of other web sites have Chavez Junior down as meeting Peter Manfredo on November 19th in Toluca, Mexico. In what will be a voluntary defense by Chavez (ahead of planned fights with mandatory challenger Marco Antonio Rubio and genuine middleweight king Sergio Gabriel Martinez next year), the November 19th fight promises to be a great battle.

• Alvarado returns July 30

Denver’s Mike Alvarado (30-0, 22 KOs) will risk his WBC Continental Americas super lightweight belt, undefeated record and top ten world rating when he takes on Gabriel Martinez (27-2-1, 14 KOs) in his first hometown clash in over two years on July 30 at Softball Country in Denver, Colorado. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Poor Boys Boxing and Delgado Promotions, remaining tickets to Alvarado vs. Martinez, priced at $75, $65, $50, $35 and $25, can be purchased at by calling (303) 450-9763. The fight will be televised live nationally as the main event on Top Rank Live on Fox Sports Net, beginning at 10PM ET. Alvarado is currently world-rated WBO #6 and WBC #8. The vacant IBF Latino junior welterweight title will also be at stake.

• Edgar Sosa risks it all

In his fight this Saturday against Julio Paz (12-1, 4 KOs), former WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (42-6, 25 KOs) risks not only his WBC International title, but also his mandated challenge against long time WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (80-3-1, 44 KOs). Pongsaklek, who now has 17 world title defenses, will also defend his world championship this week against Japan’s Takuya Kogawa (17-1, 10 KOs) in Thailand. If both win, 30 days of free negotiation will begin. If no agreement is reached, the WBC will proceed with a purse bid.

• Wladimir: wants to punish Haye for the good of boxing

IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) wants to give WBA heavyweight champion a beating and a lesson on humility this Saturday night in their mega fight at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany. According to the dailymail.co.uk - At yesterdays’ press conference in Germany, Wladimir said “I will punish him (Haye) for the good of boxing. I have been angry with him for two years but I channeled that anger into my motivation.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tonight is judgement day for Gladiators Fighters, where the best fighters on the island after months of training and preparation will clash for their Category Title Belts

World Champions, Daniel ”The Jet” Zahra (WKN) and ”Super” Steve Martin (WUMA) will be facing each other in a highly anticipated Middleweight, WKN sanctioned bout for the Malta National K1 Title, which will be the main event at ‘Fight Night’ which is to be held today Tuesday 28th June at Stitch Club in San Gwann, Malta. Doors open at 7 PM

Tickets at the door: 15 Euros

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites