CREGGAN kickboxer, Brian ‘Bam Bam’ Houston faces the biggest night of his career when he headlines the eagerly anticipated ‘Domination’ at Templemore Sports Complex on Saturday.
It promises to be a special occasion for the talented 18 year-old Derry man as he takes on Spaniard, Daniel Sanchez for the ISKA’s full contact super middleweight (78kgs) amateur world title.
Already the reigning Irish, Commonwealth and European champion, Houston, who stands at 6ft 4’’, can announce himself on the world stage with victory in front of an expected 800 strong support on Saturday.
Tickets for the biggest kickboxing show of the year, which also features a K1 Five Nations Pro-Am title fight and four Irish title bouts, are selling fast.
Sanctioned by ISKA - the world’s top sanctioning and regulatory body for combat sports and competitive martial arts - the show, co-promoted by Strike Martial Arts Academy and Bishop’s Street K1 Kickboxing Club, will be an exciting showcase of the city’s flourishing kickboxing talent.
And Bishop’s Street K1 Kickboxing coach and co-promoter, Brian Crossan, expects ‘Domination’ to be a massive success.
“Tickets are selling fast,” revealed Crossan. “There must be a few hundred sold already and were expecting a final push this week ahead of the fight,” he predicted.
“The hall can accommodate up to 1,000 seats if need be, but we’re expecting about 800 to 1,000. It’s the best set-up I’ve ever seen in Derry for a kickboxing show.
“It’s amazing,” he continued. “There will be smoke machines in the walk in to the ring. The fighters will get followed in from the changing rooms to the ring by TV cameras and the footage will be shown live on big screens around the ring itself.
“It’s a professional set-up and there’s no expense spared. It will be similar to the ‘One Big Fight Night’ in Ebrington in the City of Culture year and Mason’s Bar will have a fully licensed bar as well.
“The atmosphere will be brilliant. It’s a top class set-up and people won’t believe how good it will be.”
Put in the ground work
Kickboxers from Bishop’s Street K1 and Strike have been training hard for the past 10 weeks in preparation for Saturday’s fight night.
Making use of some of the steepest streets in Derry for early morning hill sprints and cardio work, Crossan believes they are in the best shape possible going into Saturday’s event.
“The fighters have been training hard for the past 10 weeks,” explained Crossan. “They’ve been training from 6 a.m. doing cardio work and then back in again in the evening for sparring.
“We’ve used Shipquay, Moore Street and Fountain Hill for hill sprints to prepare the best way we can. We’re also trying to pull all the kickboxing clubs in Derry together so we can work in unison rather than working against each other.
“That’s our goal because there’s some great talent in the town.
“I’ve a few Irish title holders at the club and Brian’s (Houston) just 18 and he’s fighting for a world title which is amazing.”
Also fighting for a world title is Strike’s Eamon Deane who contests the Pro-Am K1 world title, while his stablemates Brendan Magee and Damien Duddy both fight for K1 Irish titles.
Noel Morrison will contest for the full-contact Irish title and Rath Mor’s Cian ‘The Kid’ Kennedy will fight for the junior Irish title.
Those involved in title fights on the night will be attending live weigh-ins at the Bentley Bar on Friday so fight fans can get an opportunity to see the fighters go head to head, up close and personal before the big event.
ISKA officials will be in attendance to oversee proceedings.
Tickets for Domination are priced at £20 and can be purchased at Strike Martial Arts Academy, Bay Road, Bishop Street Kickboxing Club, Masons Bar and The Bentley Bar.
Doors open at 6 p.m. on Saturday with the first fight scheduled for 6.30 p.m.
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