WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP KICKBOXING
LIGHT BAR, WOLVERHAMPTON
SATURDAY 14th JULY 2007

A planned triple header of USKA talent scheduled for the Light Bar in Wolverhampton lived up to all expectation on saturday 14th July when USKA die hard's Jake 'Rattlesnake' Richards and 'Relentless' Reiss Larvin made their highly anticipated full contact debuts and Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar put some of the final touches to his glittering amateur career challenging for the ISKA Super Lightweight Championship of the World.
Jake taking on late replacement from the pythons gym in Birmingham Luke Douglas would be giving away weight and experience but had the advantage of an extended preparation. Reiss also in with a disadvantage giving away age and experience on paper to Eclipse kickboxings Amit Kaul and finally the main event for USKA saw Qasim take on the highly acclaimed French champion Galaoui Momo in what was to be beyond doubt the hardest fight in both men's careers so far to decide the ISKA Super Lightweight World title.
With over 100 spectators travelling from Birmingham to watch the USKA fighters it was well supported and their was an excellent atmosphere as first fighter of the night 'Relentless' Reiss made his way into the ring.
Home support apparent for Amit Kaul as he made his way to the ring looking confident and as he waved to his crowd in appreciation of their cheers.
Both fighters eyeball to eyeball at the centre of the ring and clearly Amit had a height and reach advantage although virtually weighing in at exactly the same weight.

'Relentless' Reiss Larvin USKA Vs Amit Kaul ECLIPSE

Seconds out round 1.....Ding Ding!

Both men try to find their range exchanging round kicks at the start of the round. Reiss instantly recognises his reach disadvantage and closes the gap throwing a punch combination and finishing the combo with a solid right hand. Reiss starts to work well behind the jab but is still struggling with the distance on his kicks because of the reach advantage and movement of Amit. Amit is rushing his punches and blitzing forward not really setting his feet but pushing the USKA man back all the same. The work rate from both men is high but a little rushed probably due to the nerves of being in a full contact fight.
Reiss looks to be throwing the harder more balanced shots and is starting also to find his kicking range landing a nice right leg round kick to the side of Amit's headguard.
Reiss punctuates his advantage catching Amit coming forward with a beautifully timed left hook to the side of the head that momentarily stiffened the Wolverhampton mans legs. Reiss sensing his man is hurt follows up with two more clubbing left hooks that sees the referee Garth Porter jump in and administer a standing eight count that is consistent with amateur rules. The action resumes and Reiss fires a straight leg to the body of Amit which is caught and countered with a straight right hand punch toppling Reiss over.
Ruled a slip because Amit was holding the leg the round ends and it is a good one for the USKA fighter.

Seconds out round 2.....Ding Ding!

A scrappy start to the second round sees both fighters again rush their work. Amit being told by his corner that he had lost the first round and needed to do more was desperately trying to back Reiss up and put his back to the ropes. The problem was that he was not hurting Reiss whilst doing that and allowing Reiss to fire back in the gaps that were being left by the Eclipse fighter.
Reiss after the initial pressure from Amit was starting to find his shots and a change of tactics from Amit saw him move laterally around the outskirts of the ring with his hands down trying to pick and move.
Reiss was looking to unload with his shots too much and in total contrast Amit was not setting his feet enough not hitting Reiss hard enough to hold him off.
A nice cobra right hand right hook combination landed nice for Amit at the end of the round but the forward pressure and quality of shot from Reiss was again enough to put him ahead in the round.

Seconds out 3rd and final round.....Ding Ding!

Gloves touched for the last segment it was Amit that came out looking very relaxed starting the round fast and letting his combinations go fluently catching Reiss sleeping.
Amit at last using his height to his advantage was looking very confident even finding time to throw turning side kicks and jump spinning kicks. Flashy but at this stage in the fight ineffective and surely energy sapping. What it was doing however was serving to break Reiss's rhythm.
The pace now was catching up with Reiss and instead of working his way in he was looking to take Amit out of there with one big punch.
Both fighters sensing that round was closing put in one final effort to grab the judges eye with Reiss landing the heavier more meaningful shots in the last 15 seconds.
The bell ends the contest and both fighters acknowledge each other efforts.
Amit's hot and move tactics serving him well for much of the third round surely earning him the nod on the judges score cards.
So by our reckoning two rounds to one for Reiss and the standing count in the first making him a comfortable winner on the scorecards.
This was confirmed by the MC with the referee raising Reiss's hand as a unanimous points winner.
The decision however does not reflect the closeness of the fight with Amit also putting in a fine performance in a close and very well matched fight.

See the fight in full here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbI8vUqwghM

So an excellent debut for Reiss against a capable fighter in Amit. Reiss will have learned alot by this encounter and now knows what is required in the wonderful world of full contact kickboxing.
Next Up the second of the trio 'Rattlesnake' Jake first into the ring followed shortly after by fellow Brummy and Python's trained fighter Luke Douglas. Luke 3kg heavier but accepting the fight at only a days notice.


Jake 'Rattlesnake' Richards USKA Vs Luke Douglas Pythons

Seconds out round 1.....Ding Ding!

The round starts with Jake adopting a nice rhythm working forward and pressing Luke back. Jake looks at ease and is letting his techniques flow not over throwing anything or leaving any gaps in his own defence.
Nothing looks to be landing over hard at this point but Jake is picking away landing accurate shots and clocking up the points with very little coming back from Luke.
When Luke did attempt to throw his hands Jake's excellent head movement seen him slip comfortably out of the way and made him miss.
The bell sounds and it is clearly a round to the USKA fighter in the

Seconds out round 2.....Ding Ding!

Round two starts with Luke throwing more in an attempt to keep Jake off balance and at distance.
Jake is unfazed though and continues to press forward in order not to let Luke's weight advantage count.
Jake's tactics are perfect, great upper body movement making Luke miss and finding his shots from multiple angles to keep himself a mile a head on the scorecards.
Luke in a clever move noticing he could not hit Jake squarely to the head dipped down and threw a cracking left hook to the body that sounded really hard as it bounced of the USKA mans side.
Jake with excellent conditioning never even blinked though and continued with the strategy that up until this point had served him so well.
Continuing the body assault both fighters exchange body round kicks but Jake gets the better of the argument sinking in a heavy left straight leg to the floating rib that drops Luke down on his knees and forehead to the canvas writhing in pain. Bravely Luke makes the count at six and Jake is straight back on him looking to close the show early. Luke ships another body straight leg, a hard right hand and a lead leg side kick and is clearly in trouble and welcomes the bell to get some rest and recovery.

Seconds out 3rd and final round.....Ding Ding!

Jake is straight back on the attack in round 3 pushing Luke back and giving him angles so that he can't throw anything back at him. He is also throwing with a meaner intent increasing the power and sharpness of his technique. Jake was also making a target of the body given that he had hurt Luke there in the last round and every time a body hook or straight leg kick landed you could see the discomfort on Luke's face.
Backing Luke up into a neutral corner Jake dipped and drove a sickening left hook to the body that brought both elbows down and followed up with a nice right hand that saw look turn his body as the referee jumped in and took up the count. It was clear though that Luke had had enough and the count continued through to 10 with Luke still holding his ribs as he made his way back to his corner.
Jake over the moon with his win was all smiles back in the USKA corner as the MC announced the result.
Jake Richards winner by TKO stoppage 50 second into the 3rd round!

See the fight in full here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew4AE5JkBvU

Another great debut for the USKA fighter and a TKO stoppage as a bonus. Full credit to Luke for stepping in late to make the match and a possible rematch somewhere down the line between these two with both given plenty of notice.
Main event time now and World title action in the Super Lightweight division. Britain's unbeaten double British and double European Champion Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar facing the biggest challenge of his career so far against French champion Galaoui Momo. Both fighters had weighed in earlier in the day, Qasim at 61.6kg and his French opponent at 62.6kg.
Both fighters cheered into the ring, introductions announced, National anthems played it was time to dispense with the formalities and get the action underway.

Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar Great Britain Vs Galaoui Momo France

Seconds out round 1.....Ding Ding!

Qasim straight away from the opening bell takes the centre of the ring and asserts his potent jab to good effect. Momo although not connecting shows he is dangerous with his counter right hand and that is something that Qasim will have to keep his eye on as the fight goes on. Qasim lands his first hard right straight leg to the body which is momentarily caught and held by Momo as again he attempted that right hand counter hitting the guard of Qasim.
Momo steps in with a lead round kick catching Qasim on the thigh that the referee steps in and has a word about. This would turn out to be the first of many warnings that Momo would receive for the same infringement throughout the duration of the contest.
Qasim has the better accuracy in the first round but it is clear that Momo knows his way around a ring putting together nice combinations that fall just short of their target.
On the inside Momo shows his class again spotting his opportunity and takes Qasim off balance with an inside footsweep in an attempt to unsettle his rhythm.
The round ends with Qasim again picking away at his target and although not landing anything spectacular doing more than enough to outscore the Frenchman in the first segment. So far so good for the Dream!

Seconds out round 2.....Ding Ding!

Momo starts the second round strong but a stubborn Qasim meets him head on not letting him take away the play. Qasim plants his feet and works his tidy boxing only to be hit again low with a right leg round kick that cannot have been any higher than knee height. The referee signals that he has seen it and demonstrates to Momo because of the language barrier how high he expects his kicks to be.
Qasim has Momo backed up to the ropes now and is intercepting the Frenchman's advances with a strong jab pushing him back every time he tries to press forward. It is Qasim who is countering the kick with his right hand now and looking in good control as the second rounds seconds tick away.
Qasim's boxing is looking sharp and accurate now and he is controlling the ring excellently Momo spending much of the round with his back against the ropes covering up and under heavy fire from Qasim's hands.
The round closes with Momo kicking and Qasim taking him off his feet by intercepting with lead body hook at the same time. A great round for Qasim and one that in our estimations that has put him two up.

Seconds out round 3.....Ding Ding!

Qasim again on the attack and stopping Momo jumping in with his boxing by intercepting with his strong jab.
Backed up to the ropes Momo again throws a right leg straight leg to Qasim's knees and straight away apologises indicating that he knows that what he is doing is wrong and against the rules. After yet another word from the referee the fight is resumed.
Qasim is looking the stronger of the two and although Momo is throwing lots his accuracy is not there with Qasim taking many of his shots on his arms.
Both fighters exchange volleys of punches and kicks and yet again to the disbelief of the USKA corner Momo wings in yet another low kick this time to the mid calf of Qasim. Qasim astonished that the Frenchman is getting away with these tactics without being penalised shakes his head in disgust.
They again start to mix it and Qasim presses back on the attack. Throwing a hard straight leg to the body only to be high sweep countered to the calf that this time takes him off his feet unbelievably only moments after his last low kick warning. The referee has again has a word and motions to Momo that anything other than foot to foot sweep below the waist is an unacceptable strike.
The action resumes and Qasim goes back to the game plan of picking his man off and clocking up the points, he is doing this well until once again Momo catches and counter low kicks him and straight away again offers his apologies. Again the referee motions to him that it is low but takes no harsher action to deter him from doing it again. At this point the USKA corner is seething and very unhappy that the Frenchman is being allowed to get away with such blatant fouls.
The round ends and putting aside all the illegal techniques from Momo it is another one for Qasim based on scoring techniques and accuracy. On his way back to the corner the referee again is in the ear of the French fighter imploring him to keep his kicks up.

Qasim is complaining in the corner that his legs are heavy and after checking it is clear that his knees are swollen from the continual abuse they have received with the low kicks. Qasim would have to dig really deep to protect his lead to hobble away with that world title around his waist.

Seconds out round 4.....Ding Ding!

Qasim goes on the advance and stalks Momo back against the ropes. Momo as he has done all night responds by throwing a right round kick to the calf of Qasim. As the referee steps in to warn him yet again Momo throws a spinning kick hitting the guard of Qasim but exciting a section of the Wolverhampton crowd that at this point are championing the Frenchman.
The referee calls time and for the first time gives Momo a long overdue public and final warning yet inexplicably no point deduction. The warning is also given to the French corner telling them that their man is treading on thin ice and risking disqualification.
The action resumes and both fighters meet each other head on exchanging vicious punch combinations with both having their successes getting through. The action is hotting up with both trying to take the play away from the other.
Qasim's legs are looking heavier now and he is getting caught more with straight punches as he is a little more flat footed due to the constant low kicks.
Momo backs Qasim up with a nice punch combination and punctuates it with a lovely fast jump turning side kick that luckily for Qasim catches him on his arm but no doubt will have caught the judges eye.
Momo has his on tempo now and Qasim's rhythm looks broken from Momo's good work.
Nearing the bell Momo starts to slow and Qasim finds his feet going back to his jab and finding his target.
The bell sounds and it is a good one for the Frenchman bringing him back into the fight on the scorecards.

Seconds out 5th and final round.....Ding Ding!

Qasim as he has done for every round claims the centre of the ring as Momo backs up to the rope.
Trying to shake the life back into his legs Qasim goes up on his toes and side steps from side to side keeping the French fighter where he wants him.
Momo true to form under pressure throws yet another low kick to the calf of Qasim and follows up with a jump turning side kick as he had done in the previous round. Qasim tries to fire back with straight punches but his battered legs betray him and he loses footing dropping to his knees.
The referee straight away rules it a slip and at the same time forgets to warn Momo for his umpteenth low kick foul. Momo sensing Qasim is tiring is the aggressor now looping in big punches and pushing Qasim back. This is the first time in the contest that Qasim is giving up ground and his legs are look to be getting heavier and heavier almost treading in treacle trying to move out of the way of the shots.
Momo starts to tire now after his fast start to the round and Qasim seems to have found his second wind once again coming forward and putting his shots together picking away against Momo.
Momo responds again as he has done all night when he is under pressure and attempts a high sweep onto the calf of Qasim but by now Qasim does not even look to the referee for the help he has been denied from the first bell onwards.
Qasim moves forward and lands a big looping right hook that moves Momo's head right down.
Momo fires back but this time Qasim catches all his offence on his arms.
Like a game of ping pong the action is back with Qasim as he once again bowls over a big bolo right hook that again finds the target and seem to stiffen the legs of Momo, sensing he is shook Qasim bowls over another then another only stopping his assault by the sound of the final bell.
An excited French corner egged on by an adopted portion of the Wolverhampton crowd celebrated hoping to fool the judges who's score cards had already been collected as the USKA corner happy with their mans work stood confident that a new World champion would be coming back with them to Birmingham.

The scores collated and both fighters brought to the ring centre for the decision the MC announces the result and winner by unanimous decision and new Super Lightweight Champion of the World...................
QASIM 'THE DREAM' NISAR
score totals read 47/49 Nisar , 47/48 Nisar and 47/49 Nisar
Qasim ecstatic in his win salutes and applauds the crowd and makes his way back to his corner where he is congratulated by his cornermen and coach Neil Kelly.
A true World title decided between two genuine World class operators.
The French fighters tactics questionable at times and the referee's refusal to clamp down on the low kicks sooner aside the right man won and new champion crowned.
You can't go out in the rain and not get wet and World class kickboxing has it's fair share of bad weather.
Qasim experienced more than a few light showers on Saturday night but it makes the victory even sweeter knowing he had to come through the fire and show not only the skills but the heart of a champion to prevail.

As a side note Qasim's coach Neil Kelly called over World Class referee John Blackledge over who was also mirror judging the fight after the bout to ask him why no point deductions were enforced due to the constant low kicks of the frenchman.
His response was that Qasim was so far ahead it would have made no difference. He said Qasim had won all the rounds and the French fighter if he was lucky would have shared maybe two of them.

See part 1 of the fight here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBa1W0GOM_s
See part 2 of the fight here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1J0uNqwnE

A clean sheet for USKA and a World title belt! Could the Birmingham contingent have wished for anything more!

Qasim would like to give a special mention and say thank you to al the people over the years who have helped him get to where he is today and have played a vital part of helping him achieve his goal of becoming a World Champion. Family, Coaches, Sparring partners, Sponsors, friends and of course supporters that have backed him from day one.
A professional career awaits now as Reiss and Jake take over where Qas left off in the amateurs.
Exciting times I'm sure you'll all agree.

QASIM 'THE DREAM' NISAR
I.S.K.A AMATEUR SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION