Fighter becomes English champion

12:07pm Thu Dec 22, 2011

A young fighter from Newark Martial Arts helped round off a fine year for the club by being crowned English champion.

Kickboxer Luke Baker beat Jordan Brittain to claim the ISKA English Full Contact Title at Locky’s Bar, Wombwell, Barnsley, owned by former World Kickboxing Champion Arthur Loughlan,

The two squared up in the main event on the night, with Baker taking the initiative with a flurry of push kicks and punches in the opening round.

That was a sign of things to come as Baker continued to produce inch-perfect punches throughout the fight and floored his opponent, the defending champion, in the fifth and final round.

Also fighting for a title, but narrowly missing out on the day, was the brother of Chad and Regis Sugden, Bailey Sugden, 14.

His opponent was the current WKA British Open Champion and JFCC silver medallist at the recent Five Nations Championships, James Green.

Giving away a significant weight advantage, Sugden fought against his natural instincts, changing his normal aggressive style.

Into the fourth and fifth rounds the home fighter showed off his fast, aggressive style and was awarded the win at the end of five gruelling rounds.

Next up was Lewis Fallon, whose original opponent pulled out a few days before with an injury, meaning he was forced to make his debut under boxing rules.

His opponent came out strong catching Fallon with some heavy punches.

The Newark fighter settled down and edged the second round with some stunning punches to the body and head.

The third round was even better for Fallon as he took the fight to his experienced opponent, who struggled to cope with the variation and speed of the Newark fighter as he strolled to victory.

Head coach Dean Sugden said: “Overall it was another great display of boxing and kickboxing from the Newark Martial Arts fighters, fighting away from home giving away weight and experience to take two wins out of three.

“Newark always comes out in support of the club and its fighters and this show was no exception.”