Newark Show 22nd JanuaryRefreshingly efficient, is the first recollection of Newark Martial Arts folia into light Continuous shows. Awaiting us after a two hour drive to Newark was a warm and friendly welcome from Middleweight World Champion Dean Sugden and his team, at his impressive and very well furbished gymnasium. Always seeking new challenges U.S.K.A. fighters travelled East to the home of this very highly regarded club to test themselves against the new opposition, attending the days event were teams from T.S. Martial Arts, Peter Dunnitts, Combat Kickboxing Academy, Jesters Kickboxing, Derbyshire Panthers, Chikara the host club Newark Martial Arts and of course U.S.K.A. Refreshingly and rather boldly Dean Sugden had prematched the whole fight card and a line up of 47 fights was billed, ranging from Ist time novices through to professional fighters, audacious to say the least, but having gone the extra mile in preparation the days proceedings ran completely without hitch to an amazing degree of efficiently. The first pairing of two of the Newark gyms two youngest competitors aged just five years old set the stage and the standard with both lads showing an amazing understanding of distance, timing, and technique, in fact it was hard to believe that these youngsters were as young as they were. U.S.K.A’s first fighter of the day was Harris Khan who with excellent forward momentum scored an impressive win over Bailey Sugden from Newark, next up was Noor Mohammed and despite contesting an even first round against Jesters fighter Liam Firth scored the win by way of more kicks landed in the second round. Third U.S.K.A. fighter to enter the ring was Haroon Khan who struggled to find his kicking range amidst a close fight with Leon Dunnitt and eventually succumb to the more accurate kicks of his opponent. The appearance of little Ben Taylor from Derbyshire Panthers also offered one of the days highlights with the Ripley fighter treating the audience to a remarkable display of boxing skills from what is surely a hot prospect for the future. Ben is of particular interest to U.S.K.A. as he will provide a stiff test for our own Jay Collett in a Midland Area title fight in March to be held in Ripley. Ridwan Khan matched against Danny Swanwich was a close call but despite keeping up constant pressure Ridwan lost this well contested bout with Swanwich scoring the cleaner shots. Next it was the ladies turn and Stacey Richards put in yet another improved performance against Newark’s Laurie Pearson and despite remaining on the front foot throughout fell prey to the heavily scoring rear round kick of the Newark girl. One of U.S.K.A. up and coming stars followed with Jay Collett competing against crowd favourite Regis Sugden from Newark, and although Jay struggled a little with his balance conceding 4kg to his adversary, and suffering a slightly blooded nose for his endeavours, he scored a very commendable draw with talented opposition, in a fight that went first one way then the other. Competing in his first head contact bout U.S.K.A. new boy Mark Sedgwick matched against Kyle Kerry showed why he is a name to watch out for in the future. Mark's original opponent Kyle pulled put due to not feeling very well after an earlier contest.Mark was then matched in a demo bout against hot prospect Chad Sugden, to whom he conceeded a massive 7kg. Chad who is undefeated 12-0 and has two title belts, but Mark showed a great deal of promise and kicking ability in a tough battle. Enter Relentless Reiss Larvin against Lewis Dunnitt from Combat Kickboxing Academy, this bout saw a comprehensive points victory to Riess over a gutsy forward fighting Dunnitt . Usman Ali looked every bit like scoring a win in his bout over Lewis Fallon but the second round saw Usman ship just to many head punches and never quite got his back leg working as well as his heavy scoring front foot, a close fight was eventually scored to Fallon. Very talented Jake Richcards rematch with Ripley’s Jack Clay was a fight that drew much attention. The first encounter was won by our man Jake, but this was a fight that was always going to be close. Having taken the first round the U.S.K.A fighter saw his opponent step up the pace in the second making it a closer bout. In the third Jake looked for that round winning kick whilst Jack for his part pressed on hell bent on keeping up the pressure. A close call saw Derbyshire panthers Clay getting the nod, setting up a n intriguing trilogy. The only fighter not to be prematched on the day was Tyler Shakespeare, but of course now weighing in at 66.5 kg and a veteran of 33 fights at only 14, it is never a surprise not to find opponents for him, so it was Demo time for the Steppin Razor. Paired with a 19 yr old from Newark served to prove to Tyler, age ain’t nothing but a number, with the U.S.K.A. fighter more than holding his own and punching well above his weight in an impressive display
All three of the Chikara fighters taking part were due to fight on the England v Norway full contact show in Lincoln next month, so the step in class, all be they demonstration bouts, was very intimidating for the U.S.K.A. boys. First to taste the difference and making his ring comeback was former light continuous English Champion Murdock Kellyman , who despite being out of the ring for two years quickly got back in the swing of things to stay in touch with opponent Arron Robinson throughout, himself due to make his full contact ring return shortly. Murdock back to his best will be prove a formidable opponent for anyone and is a welcome return to the U.S.K.A. squad. Qasim Nisar v Steve Swinburn a mouth watering prospect even as a demo bout, and that’s just how it proved to be with “The Dream” providing the current British Champion with a good warm up for his forthcoming next bout in February. And although Qasim has only just started out on his full contact career he continually shows he has all the tools and ability to make that long road to greatness quite short. Many cadet fighters enthuse their coaches with hope eternal, but this lad is currently making big waves amongst the ranks of full contact, making his peers sit up and take notice. This bout courtesy of Steve and the Chikara gym will have served only to further add to the immense confidence of this very confident young fighter, a bout which saw Swinburn slip through his gears with consummate ease only to see the young Qasim equal too each increase in intensity and a fight in which Qasim never looked out of sorts. Last by no means least was Shaun “Boom Boom” Burton v Tommy “Gun” Collett, and what a display they both put on, Shaun for his part showed for every bit why he is British Full Contact Champion with excellent technique and some superb hand combinations whilst remaining superbly balanced throughout. Tommy for his part had his first taste of full contact opposition, and whilst experimenting with the new style still showed his own irresistible brand of kicking technique to boot. Tommy’s own unique blend of aggression and flamboyance will in no doubt be a very interesting career to follow and assisted by the benefit of this bout will have the piece of mind that full contact is a discipline that will suit him consummately. The day had proved well worth the journey and without exception the opposition on the day provided U.S.K.A. fighters with stiff test of their ability no more so than in the standard set by host club Newark Martial Arts, a club with which Chief Coach Neil Kelly is keen to further a closer working relationship with. The gym and it’s coach echo all the ideals to which U.S.K.A. aspire too, and offer a standard across the board U.S.K.A. is keen to test itself against. Thanks should also go to Chikara Kickboxing and its team for their magnanimous gesture in providing our lads with invaluable experience against some of the countries most talented fighters of the day , and we would wish them every success in their next venture against Norwegian opposition. Found below is a quote from an E-mail sent to Neil Kelly from Newark chief Instructor Dean Sugden The USKA squad is one which I look at with great admiration. The way your fighters conduct themselves make it a pleasure for the referee and spectators. As a promoter of shows I would always look to work with quality fighters who demonstrate at the appropriate time all the techniques they have learnt. The USKA squad would always be welcome at any event we hold. And in reply from everyone here at U.S.K.A. we would like to thank
Dean and his team for their warm hospitality and kind words, further
to which, add we look forward also to working again with his very
impressive gym.
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