Back row, left to right – Samantha Robb, Darren McMullan, Billy Murray, Alex CioCoi, Ursula AGnew Front row, left to right – Gary Hamilton, Cathy McAleer, Johnny Smith
‘Lords Of The Ring’ The Return
25 years of World Championship Kickboxing at the Ulster Hall Belfast
Belfast’s Billy Murray is marking an incredible career milestone with a glittering event at the Ulster Hall this September 13th. Most would say he is the man accredited with helping popularise kickboxing in Ireland and he`ll celebrate 25 years since becoming professional world champion for the first time. Murray, Ireland’s first ISKA Full-Contact world champion, now a spry 56 year-old, took the world welterweight title from American Richard Hill – the Mayweather Jnr of kickboxing back then, and a man who was supposed to be unbeatable. The event took place on September 12, 1989 in Belfast`s home of the fight game – the Ulster Hall.
To mark the occasion Murray, now a celebrated coach and promoter, is gathering SEVEN home-grown fighting stars of the present and future, all of whom will challenge for a world title on the night, September 13 2014. “It’s just like coming home,” said Murray announcing this September’s show. “It feels like just a heartbeat since that night my heart was racing and I stepped through the ropes. Hill was a hell of fighter – tough, wily, kicked like an angry horse. He’d beaten me once before, but he wasn’t going to beat me that night, in front of my people, in front of my Belfast”.
“I’ve had a wonderful and incredible career since then but that night set me on the way, I felt that I had to mark it and there`s no better way for me, and for the sport I love, than to look to the future. It’s going to be a night that will live long. Who knows how many more Billy Murrays will emerge this September”.
Murray’s career has taken him from the simple gym in East Belfast, where he still turns out champion after champion, to the seat of governments in Europe. Practising martial arts for over 40 years Murray was an original who saw the way his sport could unite warring communities within Northern Ireland, his gym has long been known as a zero-tolerance zone for sectarianism. Billy Murray visits schools, especially in tough areas, teaching a message of self-respect and self-control with his motto Truth, Discipline and Respect – he’s a one-off and helped co-found The Peace Fighters – a sports initiative dedicated to helping young people. Murray`s achievements are prolific; he won his first Ulster title in 1982 followed by an amateur world title in 1987, then professional titles in 1988. Murray then went on to capture his first professional world title in 1989 resulting in a total of four world crowns at four different weights.
The ProKick Gym owner has also guided, promoted, and managed 10 world champions, 23 European (or Intercontinental) champions and numerous national champions. Billy Murray takes teams across the globe and does it without any official funding – it`s all paid for through fundraising by friends and families of the brave and eager young fighters.
Tickets are on sale for this incredible night – you can purchase directly from the Ulster Hall box office on 028 9033 4455 or over the phone at the ProKick gym in Wilgar St on 028 9065 1074 or even on-line at www.prokick.com.
Any ladies looking to take up kickboxing, just visit : www.prokick.com.
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Love Belfast is Belfast and Northern Ireland’s digital home for what’s on, food and drink, sport, theatre, business and city life, with a Things to Do guide to attractions and days out across Northern Ireland. We’ve been publishing since 2012. Every story is written and edited by the people who own and run Love Belfast and published under one byline. Love Belfast has been a finalist in the Digital DNA Awards (Tourism), UK Blog of the Year, the UTV Business Eye Awards and the Eastside Awards, and our social channels get over 15 million social views per month. Contact: lovebelfastcity@gmail.com.
