The Galway Black Dragon Kickboxing club will host a major International Kickboxing & K-1 event entitled "The Art Of War" in the Black Box Theatre on Saturday evening.
It will feature 18 fighters from the Black Dragon camp up against top class opposition from Ireland, Belgium and Morocco.
Current European super lightweight K-1 champion Paul "The Hurricane" Huish from Fana Burca in Knocknacarra will headline with a mandatory first defence of his title to the number one contender Bilal Benyaich from Belgium.
Benyaich is back from Arizona, having fourth for a World Muay Thai title and is fighting fit and ready to give Huish a serious challenge.
Huish’s teammate and current junior lightweight All Ireland K-1 champ Cian McCormack from Kinvara will also take on international opposition when he shares the ring with Ayoub Zerouali from Morocco in a K-1 prestige bout.
Benyaich and Zerouali will fly in on Friday with their coaches and will weigh in alongside Huish and Mc Cormack on Friday evening, 24 hours ahead of their scheduled contests.
Other big fights on the night will see former Irish light heavyweight kickboxing champion Shane Creaven from Turloughmore make a bid to regain his crown from current champ Derry Guinan from Tullamore.
Gerry King from Doughiska will take on Derry city’s China Coyle for the first IKF sanctioned Irish veteran’s title at light middleweight, and Adam Keane from Abbeyknockmoy will take on John Cawley from Dungarvan for the Irish super welterweight kickboxing crown.
Ryan Ali from Tuam will make a bid for the recently vacated Irish middleweight title when he fights Carlow hardman Mark Comerford for the belt.
Doors open in the Black Box at 6.15pm on Saturday evening with the first fight scheduled for 7pm. Tickets are available from the fighters, the Black Dragon gym, the Town Hall Theatre, Sally Longs bar, or a limited number at the door.
