Fight show packs a big punch

Sam Squires celebrates victory at Pantheon III - The Colosseum. Picture courtesy Flashback Photography

The new venue of Sussex Coast College Hastings was incredible and the crowd was engrossed from the second they walked through the doors.

Colin Payne, head of the governing body for Europe, the IKF, which sanctioned the show, said: “It’s only January, but this show certainly will be up there as one of the best this year.”

The 500+ crowd witnessed 15 full contact kickboxing and K1 rules bouts. Local fighters from the home club, The Fighting Tigers Gym, all impressed. Full contact debutants Siobhan Keppler, Danny Boorman and Sam Squires were so well schooled and looked as if they had been fighting for years.

Fellow FTG members Ben Mitchell, Elliot Hallworth, Jimmy Killick and Mark Anderson were also in action, with Boorman and Killick triumphing by knockout.

Clubs that took part travelled from Coventry, Ipswich, Reading, Bognor, London, Canterbury, Tring and Thurruck, and there was some friendly rivalry with the Freestyle Combat Academy from Bexhill.

An FTG spokesman said: “All the clubs in attendance agreed what a great show it was, running smoothly and professionally throughout. Pantheon IV is sure to be bigger and better so watch this space for the release date for the event in April 2014.”

Fighting Tigers Gym head coach Phil Eaton invites all to attend classes with the Castleham Industrial Estate-based club. Telephone (01424) 532377 or email [email protected] for information on all classes and future events.