Hardy Spicer's Social Club home of many of F.I.S.T.
kick and Thai boxing shows hosted it's latest rendition on the 20th
of November and top of the bill amongst the jnr fights for the day
was the long awaited 60kg Midland Area title shot for Reiss Larvin
one of U.S.K.A's more unsung hero's. Reiss had missed out before when
his match failed to show on the previous F.I.S.T. show and was now
wound up like a well sprung coil to get into the ring and show everyone
what many of us already knew, that he was a ring star in the making,
just bursting to prove it. Alongside Reiss and also a fighter that
had been waiting in the wings was Jay Collett and another version
of the F.I.S.T. Midland Area Title lay in wait for him, this time
the 35 kg division, last but not least to complete the triplet was
the quiet man of the gym himself Jake Richards who was paired with
an old ring adversary in Luke Douglas which would see an Inter Club
57 kg title contested.
All this along with U.S.K.A's usual band of combatants featuring many
of the gyms more readily recognisable fighters too boot, gave the
gym a strong showing at the event.
After the usual pleasantries and some surprises which saw promoter
Paul Sutton handing out awards of recognition to some of kickboxing's
hard working regular faces for their support throughout the year,
the event got underway with some very good jnr bouts, the pick of
which was definitely Jay Colletts Title battle with Mark Sedgwick
from the Force One gym. Jay coming off the back of a very impressive
win in his first night time showing at the recent Walsall Face off
Bill, featuring Zucala and Orchard started as firm favourite, but
young Mark was a force to be reckoned with, quickly stepping in to
annul much of Jay's silky trademark footwork, Jay struggling in the
early rounds with his usually exemplary timing saw Mark score well
on the counter quickly notching up the first two rounds, and it was
time for a big fight back for Jay going into the third , two behind.
Jay's ring prowess is well known to all who have seen him but alas
today it was a case of a bad day at the office, with much of his work
being either smothered of out paced by an impressive Sedgwick who
almost without Jay knowing it, took the third round too, three behind
and Jay's head seemed to drop and try though he might, he could not
claw the fight back from the insurmountable position he found himself
in.
After five tiring rounds a deserved and unanimous decision was awarded
to Mark Sedgwick , who on the whole out paced our man Jay. But in
defeat comes honour for only but a few, Jay amongst them, and a defeated
and obviously despondent Jay rose above his disappointment to stand
head and shoulders above all with his gracious and dignified manner
in which he both acknowledge a worthy winner and acquitted himself
during and after the fight, today was not to be Jays, but his time
will come, and very soon. So a rare defeat for Jay and U.S.K.A. but
the irony of it is, within a month who enrols with the U.S.K.A. academy?
none other than Mark Sedgwick, who will prove to be a good acquisition
for the gym and who could again flourish into a very good fighter,
already possessing ample ability.
Amongst the back drop of many more excellent jnr bouts another set
back for the gym was unfolding, Reiss Larvin's opponent had failed
to show, and despite all the very hard efforts of everybody concerned,
a suitable replacement could not be found, which again saw Reiss without
a title fight, one for which he had trained exceedingly hard for.
Matching Reiss successfully was becoming a bit of a tough task, and
again his efforts in the gym were in vain, all this will serve to
further frustrate Reiss to the point where we don't envy the fighter
he does eventually lock horns with, for his even longer awaited title
shot. Just when the day seemed to be turning out to be a bit of a
nightmare for the U.S.K.A. gym, up to mark stepped Jake Richards to
contest an Jnr Interim 57kg Midlands title, in the final chapter of
a three fight trilogy against Luke Douglas from the Pythons gym. Jake
via two wins in their previous meetings started favourite for the
Belt but knew his opponent was a much improved fighter and would offer
him a very tough fight as he had done before. The first round saw
Jake searching for his rhythm and pace, with both fighters paying
a little too much respect for each other, but into round two Jake
had found the range of his opponent quickly stepping out of Lukes
single straight leg attacks then just as quickly stepping back in
to counter with good combinations using both hands and feet. This
seemed to set the pattern for the rest of the fight with Jake outworking
and out thinking an ever pressing Luke. Pythons fighter Douglas kept
pressing the fight to the end but over the three rounds could not
seem to combat Jakes sharp counters and good movement, the climax
of the fight saw Jake on the front foot and meeting the attacks launched
at him head on, and deal out some good scoring head kicks into the
bargain. Come decision time there was never any doubt, that U.S.K.A.'s
Mr Quiet had took his first step in the direction of much greater
accolade in the future, with another comprehensive victory over quality
opposition.
Amidst all the excitement, disappointment, and jubilation the U.S.K.A.
squad had quietly notched up a handsome tally of wins for the day,
including an impressive display from snr Heavyweight prospect Mario
Campbell, again conceding a considerable weight advantage to his Team
BBA opponent Mario showed yet again why he is a quality fighter, scoring
at will and with pin point accuracy in a bruising affair.