The Galway Black Dragon Kickboxing Gym is promoting an international full contact kickboxing tournament at Galway’s Black Box Theatre on Saturday, entitled "Seasons Beatings".
This is one of the Galway club’s most ambitious projects and will feature an Ireland v The Carribbean five-man team event, three IKF European title fights, an IKF All Ireland title fight, an IKF Five-Nations title fight, an Ireland v England international bout, and seven undercard fights featuring fighters from Galway.
The main event will see Galway’s European Champion Cathal "mean machine" Manning make a mandatory defence of his supermiddleweight crown against British No 1 Rob Burbridge from the famous TKO GYM in Rochester.
If Manning is successful, he will challenge one of the top ranked Americans for the IKF world title next year in Galway.
Aidan Brooks, the current Irish heavyweight champ and World Games gold medallist will take on Jean Claude Albina, the champion of France for the vacant IKF European heavyweight crown, while Nicola Collins will face English champion Louise Tanner from Birmingham for the IKF European featherweight title.
Sean Cumiskey takes on David Walsh from Belfast for the IKF All Ireland lightweight title and World gold medallist Donna Larkin will face Thai boxing specialist Chantelle Cameron from London for the IKF Five Nations lightwelterweight title.
The Carribean fighters, who call themselves "The Pirates Of The Carribbean", are taking the event seriously, coached by Christine Mourrer, a former professional world kickboxing champion.
This will be the last martial arts event of 2008 and tickets are on sale now from Town Hall Theatre, Menlo Park Hotel, Sally Longs Bar, or at the door.
