British title success for clubs teens
Two fighters from Newark Martial Arts Kickboxing Club have become WAKO British Champions.
Jade Grierson (16) and Lewis Fallon (16) were victorious in the WAKO British Championships Cadets Division at Harvey Hadden Sports Centre, Nottingham.
Having recently turned 16, Grierson was only just old enough to take part.
Despite her age, Grierson’s had to compete in a higher category against heavier fighters, after her opponent in her original under 70kg division pulled out.
In the semi-final Grierson fought against an older and heavier opponent from London who was tough but Grierson took the fight to her.
Grierson gave her two standing eight counts during the three rounds.
In the final Grierson took on Alison Dunbar, of Scotland, who came into the fight unbeaten and more than 25kg heavier.
The Newark kickboxer adopted the wrong tactics for the first round and came back to the corner struggling after trying to trade and compete on a strength basis.
But in the second and third rounds Grierson dominated with movement, skill, speed and ringcraft, which caused her opponent to show frustration and stress towards the end of the final round.
Grierson was declared the unanimous winner to become the champion and add another crown to her kickboxing titles.
She fights again in another British title on Saturday. Victory would make her the undisputed British champion.
Grierson holds not only the WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Associations) but also the EKF and WKA British titles.
Fallon, who was also just old enough to compete, fought against another strong and skilful opponent.
Fallon also took a majority decision to become WAKO Cadet British Champion and adds this crown to his EFK British and English titles.
Chad Sugden, of the Newark Club, also showed that kickboxers could compete at the highest level in boxing by winning his quarter-final in the national Golden Gloves Tournament at Triumph Sports and Social Club, Coventry.
Sugden (13) represented the Midlands as the current Midlands Boxing Champion and fought brilliantly against Josh Mott, of Hull Saints Amateur Boxing Club.
Sugden was down on the computer scoring after the first round but then settled to be one point ahead going into the last round.
He secured the win in the final round making his opponent miss, and making him pay with great left hooks and right crosses against his dangerous southpaw opponent.
He will now compete in Knottingley in the national semi-finals and if he wins this next round he will become the second Newark ABC boxer to go through to the final of the Golden Gloves Open Class Tournament.
