From the time the show was announced it attracted alot of interest. Not only would there be an 8 man elimination championship at 67kg one of the most competitive weight divisions in kickboxing but also a true European title fight at 62kg between the Portuguese Champion Paulo Relvas and the I.S.K.A British and European Champion Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar.
The Portuguese fighter came boasting a very good record and a reputation as a tough guy never being down or stopped in 22 fights. If anyone was going to test his toughness it would be Qasim who this in his 20th fight had notched up no less than 15 early stoppages and had proved him self to be pound for pound the best amateur full contact fighter in the country.
Qasim in the build up to the fight had looked dynamite and unlike his last fight for the ISKA European title was injury free and firing on all cylinders.
After a very good night of kickboxing action it was time for the co main event of the -62kg European title clash between Qasim and Relvas.

The Portuguese fighter was called first to the ring without any fuss but the room awaited in expectation of the man they had come to see. The MC proceeded with his introduction..........
'And the moment you have been waiting for, To the ring we have a local boy, He trains at USKA here in Birmingham with Neil Kelly, will you please welcome to the blue corner....Qasim....The Dream....Nisar!
As soon as Qasim's name is announced the familiar drum beat of 'The Champ Is Here' start playing and the now as familiar chorus of horns sound out as Qasim and the USKA dream team of Neil Kelly, Phil Richards, Sean Quinn make their way to the ring.
The noise if deafening and the atmosphere electric with everyone knowing this is the acid test for Qasim and on paper the hardest fight of his career in front of him. Would he sink or swim? We were about to find

Both fighters in the ring now and a little delay as the Portuguese corner struggled to fit the seemingly too small headguard that had been supplied to from by the promoters. Relvas showed he was there for business when he signalled to the ref that he did not need the headguard and wanted to get on with the fight. The Golden Belt officials however were having none of it and arranged a spare headguard for him from back stage. Through all the Portuguese fighters bravado Qasim remained ice cool and just smiled at him to show him that he was not going to be intimidated in any way shape or form.
At last with the headguard on and secure both fighters were brought to the middle of the ring to receive their final instructions from referee Clive Tennant. Not really sure how many of the instructions the Relvas actually understood or took on board but at the end of the day fighting is a universal language and i'm sure at the sound of the first bell he was more than qualified to translate them with his fists and feet.

What was also apparent from the centre stare down was the now normal height advantage Qasim had over the shorter but heavier man from Portugal. Would it make a difference? All would be revealed in a matter of seconds at the sound of the first bell.

GOLDEN BELT -62 KG EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar ENGLAND Vs Paulo Relvas PORTUGAL

Ding Ding...Round 1!

The round starts and an aggressive Relvas backs Qasim up to the ropes with a series of hard hooks onto his arms. It seems he is trying to stamp his authority on the bout early and install some doubts in Qasim's mind.
Qasim circles on the ropes and looks to get himself into better position.
Relvas wants to keep the action close and not let Qasim use his height and reach and continues to close the gap and apply pressure tactics to the fight.
Qasim after working good lateral movement finds his first gap and at the same time as the corner call it he throws it, a hard straight leg shin kick across the mid section that sees the Portuguese fighter for the first time in the action momentarily stand his ground rather than stalk forward. Relvas then pushes forward again only to be shoved off from a strong Qasim.
With the initial pressure attack from Relvas subsided Qasim finds his range and starts to hit him with some sharp accurate long combinations of technique.
The shorter man is seeming to have real trouble at this distance and Qasim is mixing his techniques well to the head and finishing with the body attack that looks to be totally putting the Portuguese fighter out of his stride.
At this distance Qasim is totally outclassing his man and Relvas looks to be struggling to find the answers to get close to break Qasim's rhythm.
Qasim is manoeuvring his man around now and backing him up for the first time firing off punches to the head and finishing with strong body kicks. Moving Relvas into his own corner Qasim fires a ruthless left hook to the ribs that sees the Portuguese fighter dip in his knees and drop his hands down. An on the ball referee Clive Tennant jumps in straight away and administers an 8 count. As he is counting the bell sounds to end the round and it is the end of a good one for the British fighter.

Ding Ding...Round 2!

Round 2 now and it is Qasim that moves first this time taking the centre of the ring and opening up with a rear push kick towards the face that just dropped short of it's target. Qas holds the centre, moves through the gears and starts to open up looking much the stronger and gifted of the two title challengers.
It is Relvas with his back against the ropes now and Qasim is targeting the body sensing that this is the weakest part of his opponents defence. A resilient Relvas fires back and too his credit manages to land a few wide hooks to the top of Qasim's head that don't trouble him but remind him that he is still there.
The action momentarily gets stopped when Clive Tennant is concerned that there are too many people around one of the judges and after clearing the judges table the action is resumed.
Qasim goes back to the role of the aggressor and works back Relvas to the ropes again. He is still finishing his combinations with the body hook to suggest he can feel his man weakening downstairs.
In a carbon copy to the end of the first round Qasim pushes his man back into his own corner and again sets about banging the body. A right straight leg kick, a glancing Right cross, A double lead hook and then a hard lead single lead hook again sinks into the floating rib and once again the knees of Relvas dips. Referee Clive Tennant has seen enough this time and feels the writing is on the wall for the Portuguese challenger and calls a halt to save him from further punishment. There are no objections from the Portuguese fighter and corner and they reside to the fact that they have been beaten by the better man.
The referee calls both men to the middle of the ring for the result and the MC announces that the winner at 1 minute 56 seconds of the second round and new -62KG Golden Belt European Champion is...
QASIM 'THE DREAM' NISAR!

A great performance from the Dream earns himself another European title presented by Golden Belt official Mick Fowles and along with that the ranking to fight for a World title in the near future. A man on paper that was supposed to offer Qasim his toughest test quite plain and simply not anywhere near his league. Qasim had passed his International test with an A+ grade and showed to everyone in attendance that he truly is a World class puncher and a World class fighter. On now to the final faze of Qasim's amateur career before turning Pro to do the same in the paid ranks. Watch out top ten..........The Champ is almost here!

To see the fight in full please click the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geyjmmIoWjc