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Posts Tagged ‘Malta’

By Reuben Azzopardi - Malta: 27/07/2024

Andrew Hillsden is a 50 year old sportsperson but he can still go on a ring and win a Kickboxing match. This shows that it is never too late to do something new.

A sports loving person who reaches a certain age might start thinking of doing something less competitive and stressful. The majority would content themselves in taking part in a short running marathon but not Andrew Hillsden. After coming from England with his Maltese wife and settling in Ħamrun, a few years later at 49, instead of putting on the running shoes he decided to put on the Boxing gloves.

It seems that for Andrew sports is an important part of his life. As a swimmer and scuba diver it seemed that there was little else that he could try. Once he decided to go and try Kickboxing with his work collegues. It was here that he started training the sport at Master Noel Mercieca’s Ying Yang Kickboxing club.

A year later, at 50 years old, Andrew decided to take up his next challenge which was a match during the Maltese Kickboxing Championship. Even though he did not go for the Title Belt it is still remarkable that at that age someone would compete in Kickboxing. It was during “Gladiator’s Night” that Andrew faced Joseph Fenech from the Wu Shu Ky, a young and energetic athlete half his age.

They faced each other for the Full Contact 88 Weight Category for 3 rounds of 2 minutes each. Since both of them were amateurs and according to the Malta Kickboxing Association (MKBA) they had to wear all the protective equipment.

From the first bell both athletes went for a close distance match and keeping head to head for each strike given. In the second round they began to find their distance with Andrew having the upper hand with well placed punches to the head and kicks to the body. In the third round it was Fenech that was showing more action but Andrew was keeping a tight defense and good counter.

After the third round everyone thought that it was all over, but the judges gave a draw. So there was a fourth round to be held in which both athletes came back to each other with nonstop hits. Even though there was this extra round this was not enough and there was the need for a 5^th and final round. Here the Kickboxers were out of energy but it seemed that Andrew had more to give and landed some good hits to the body and face.

In the end it was a unanimous decision from the judges to give the victory by points to Andrew Hillsden. Both the extra rounds were of one minute each. It is notable as well that in the Maltese Kickboxing history this is the first time that a 50 year old person competed and won a Kickboxing match.

For more information regarding the Ying Yang club’s training days please visit the website www.yingyangkickboxing.com or contact Master Noel Mercieca on 79208283 or [email protected]

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By Rio

London - Thursday, 14th July 2011

Sparring’s Over, ‘Phat’ Pat’s Ready To Take Toms Title on 23rd July

With just over a week to go before the biggest fight of career to date Light Middleweight prospect ‘Phat’ Pat McAleese has more or less completed his preparations with a full on ten round sparring session at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, London.

McAleese, who has just the single loss on his fourteen fight record, has left nothing to chance ahead of his showdown with current Southern Area Champion Ryan Toms, as support to the highly anticipated British and Commonwealth Heavyweight title clash between Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury at Wembley Arena on Saturday, 23rd July.

Pat’s manager, Johnny Eames, called upon in-house fighters Billy Joe Saunders, Amro Ezzat, Eddie Corcoran and Freddie Turner, as well as former amateur star turned coach Tony Cesay, to ensure that the Newmarket man was ready for tough southpaw Toms.

Following a cracking ten rounds of sparring, against aforementioned Amro Ezzat, Eddie Corcoran and Tony Cesay, a smiling Johnny Eames said, “Brian O’Shaughnessy is looking after Pat’s preparation for this fight and as Pat said the other day I’m just overseeing things this time.

There’s been a big, big improvement in Pat’s movement and technique. His just completed his second ten rounds with three different fighters, all southpaws, and looked really good in doing it.

I’d like to think that come Saturday 23rd July Pat gets his hand raised up against Ryan Toms.

He’s a tricky southpaw who’s beaten one our boys twice, but I’m pretty certain that Pat’ll pull one back for the TRAD TKO Gym and get our second Southern Area champion of the season on the board and get the gym back on the Championship road.”

Pat’s coach Brian O’Shaughnessy then expanded on Johnny’s comments saying “Everything’s been going fine really. Done ten rounds today, his movement is wicked, his footwork is wicked, everything is going to plan.

We’ve had great sparring here at the TRAD TKO, there’s always plenty of good sparring with house fighters here and we’ve had quite a few of them working with us.

We’ve had Billy Joe (Saunders), Amro (Ezzat), Eddie (Corcoran), Tony (Cesay) and Freddie (Turner) and most of them are southpaw stance as well and those that aren’t took on the southpaw stance, which we are getting used to because of his opponent, it’s all good.

His weight’s well, he’s looking good in the ring, he’s doing all the work he needs to be doing, he’s listening well so it’s all going well.”

Final word on training has to go to the man of the moment himself, ‘Phat’ Pat McAleese, “Yeah training’s gone really well. Done ten rounds sparring today, felt comfortable all the way through and the fitness is there.

Next week just going to do some sharpening up and getting my energy and stamina spot on.

I’m full of energy now, so it’ll be an easy week next week and then I’ll be fit and ready to go on the 23rd.”

Pat McAleese versus Ryan Toms, for the Southern Area Light Middleweight title, is a feature fight on the undercard of Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury’s British and Commonwealth Heavyweight title clash at the Wembley Arena on Saturday 23rd July 2011.
Tickets priced £40, £50 and £150 are available from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or call Pat McAleese on 07852 980593

PHOTOS: Pat McAleese lands a bruising left to Eddie Corcoran’s body

Brian O’Shaughnessy, Pat McAleese and Johnny Eames at the TRAD Tko Boxing Gym in London

PHOTO CREDIT: Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
London, UK, Gzira, Malta & Philadelphia, USA

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By Reuben Azzopardi

Gladiators’ Night has come and gone, strikes to the body were given and scores settled. Out of the numerous matches that were held during the event the Ying Yang Kickboxing Club reaped what it has sown and won the lion’s share of the victories.

In June the Malta Kickboxing Association (MKBA) organized the National Kickboxing and K1 Championship. The event was “Gladiators’ Night”, and was a success due to the number of spectators that went to see the next Maltese Champions.

For this competition 22 Kickboxers from four different Maltese Kickboxing Clubs went into the ring to test their skills and to try to claim the prize for which they trained for so long. Athletes form Kickboxing Clubs Ying Yang, Red Dragon, New Kickboxing and Wu Shu Ky met together and competed in either Kickboxing or K1 matches.

In all the 10 matches and one exhibition match planned for the evening there was a Ying Yang’s athlete. Master Noel Mercieca, founder of the club, guided his students form the ring’s corner and in total the Ying Yang Kickboxing won 8 categories. Those that won the Kickboxing match were Kevin Cassar, Elian Mallia, Jonathan Curmi, Terence Cilia, Alan Ellul, and Andrew Hillsden. Runners up were Nicholas Ellul and Jessica Davey.

Two other members of the Ying Yang, Reuben Azzopardi u Daniel Zahra competed with K1 rules in which knees to the body and the head were permitted. This was the first National K1 Championship and both matches were for the World Kickboxing Network’s (WKN) Title Belt.

Reuben “Wolf” Azzopardi competed with Renald “Ice Man” Tabone for the Light Heavyweight Maltese WKN Title. In all the three rounds Azzopardi always had the upper hand by forcing Tabone to the corners or ropes and ending almost each attack with a well placed knee strike to the head or the body. It was in the third round that Azzopardi delivered the decisive knee strike to the ribs. After counting till 10 the referee terminated the match and declared the “Wolf” the winner. This was the only match that ended with a KO. In 2007 Azzopardi was the first Maltese Kickboxer that took part in a WKN match.

The main match was between Daniel “Jet” Zahra and “Super” Steve Martin for the Middle Weight Maltese WKN Title. All the five rounds were filled with nonstop strikes and counter strikes form both athletes. From one bell ring to the other Zahra and Martin gave a nice display of punches, knees and even jumping kicks. It was a head to head challenge till the last round when the Jet managed to place two good kicks that brought down Martin who never surrendered. In the end the victory was given to Zahra by points. “The Jet” already won three WKN Title Belts and one of them is the 2009 WKN World Title.

For more information regarding the Ying Yang club’s training days please visit the website www.yingyangkickboxing.com or contact Master Noel Mercieca on 79208283 or [email protected]

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In front of a sizable and ecstatic crowd, local boxing heavyweight hero - Billy “The Hitman” Corito, notched up his seventh straight win. The undefeated Corito had his hardest test to date when he faced Super heavyweight EBF # 7 Scott “Bam Bam” Welton over six rounds at the Orpheum Theater in Gzira, Malta

The entire boxing program consisted of four fights and a number of exhibition bouts.

By Alex Zammit - 2nd July

Billy “The Hitman” Corito defeats Scott “Bam Bam” Welton on points

Round 1 – An uneventful round with both boxers circling around trying to find their range. The difference in size is obvious Corito looks to be the smaller man by far.

Round 2 – Corito comes out of his corner fast and aggressive; Welton blocks most of the attacks, then Corito in a flurry of punches to the head and body has Welton against the ropes twice, each time Welton fights his way out and counters with some heavy punching of his own; Welton cuts Corito under the left eye; in the final minute of the round Corito connected with a couple of jabs followed by a good right hook to Welton’s torso. Welton tried to rally back but looked shaky as he walked to his corner.

Round 3 – Corito starts the action straight away with a volley of lefts and rights, Welton reels under the onslaught of punches but weathers it out and comes back into the game; Corito’s left eye is visibly swollen and Welton is obviously targeting the damaged eye; Corito looks shaken and in trouble for the first time in his career.

Round 4 – Corito comes out looking weary, although he has landed more punches and shown to be the better fighter, the countering rallies by the bigger and stronger Welton are taking their toll; Corito wisely switches tactics he connects with two good lefts and immediately steps out of range.

Round 5 – More of the same as Corito attacks to head and body and then steps out of Welton’s range; these hit and run tactics have a telling effect on the larger Welton as he now has to do some chasing of his own.

Round 6 – Both boxers look worn out, the fight has been carried out at a very fast pace perhaps more suited to lighter weights; Corito is now fighting in spurts, he is ahead on points and any ideas of giving his fans a KO win have evaporated. Big Welton seems to have run out of steam and his only hope of a win is by KO. The crowd is in frenzy as the finals seconds of the round tick by and Corito has his hands lifted in victory.

A truly hard won and deserved victory by Corito the Maltese “Hitman”.

Photo Credit: Keith Borg www.luxmoments.com - [email protected] - Further photos and full size prints may be obtained from the photographer directly

Dione Galea (Malta) defeated Wayne “Burger Boy” Roberts by points over four rounds The wily Maltese veteran showed his experience over the younger man; using pressure and continuously moving forward never allowing the younger Roberts to settle in. Round one was uneventful with Roberts paddling backwards but paring off Galea’s attacks. By round 2 Galea’s experience started showing and by round four Roberts was on the ropes under a rain of jabs and punches to both head and body.

Daniel Attard defeats Tylor Olivia by TKO in 47 seconds Although Maltese boxing records are sketchy to say the least, this was probably a new record for Maltese boxing. Attard delivered a beautifully executed right hook to the head and Olivia hit the Canvas hard, to his merit and fighting spirit Olivia got up but it was obvious that he was in a daze and unable to continue. Although the official result was TKO this in reality should have been a KO result and the referee should not even have considered allowing the fight to continue.

Clayton “The Punisher” Vella defeats Kyle Azzopardi by TKO in Round 3 The Punisher certainly lived up to his alias when in a one side affair he punished the game but completely outclassed Azzopardi. The referee decided that Azzopardi had suffered enough and stepped in to stop the fight at 1.36 of the third round.

Daniel “The Spider” Micallef defeated Ritche Abu on points The only description for this fight that I can think of is ‘farcical’ though no fault of Micallef; Abu should have been disqualified from the first round for punching below the belt, rabbit punching, holding and hitting and a host of other fouls. To his merit Micallef did not respond negatively and did the best he could under the circumstances. This is not the first experience with Abu who although sports a beautiful physique and a powerful punch is certainly no fighter.

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One of the exhibition bouts deserves a mentioned as “Malena” Chircop, better know on local television as Steffi Chircop, entered the ring with “Super” Scott Dixon to give a three round demonstration and promote women’s boxing. Well done Malena who showed that good looks can be coupled with a good jab and a hard p

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In a friendly and relaxed atmosphere at Dixon’s School of Boxing, local Super Heavyweight - Billy “The Hitman” Corito weighed in at 120 Kilos, while his opponent Scott “Bam Bam “Whelton weighed in at 125 Kilos

Billy and Scott are the main headline in tonight’s boxing program (1^st July) which is to be held at the Orpheum Theater, Gzira Malta.

Billy “The Hitman” Corito: “I’m happy that I get to face a better class opponent, Scott is a good fighter and I am sure that we will give the public a good show. I am very keen to prove myself to the Maltese boxing fans as I feel that it is time for me to move up to the next level”

Scott “Bam Bam“ Whelton: From my side I’m very glad to be in Malta, I have been warmly welcomed – I heard about Billy and his success in Malta back in England and I am really looking forward to our match, I am sure that both of will give the very best and will not disappoint the local boxing fans”

Tickets at the door are very reasonable priced at 15 Euros and 25 Euros for the VIP area

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