DAMIEN DUDDY made light of a step up in weight and a step up in class to overcome Ross Thompson and collect the ISKA 4 Nations title last night.
The St Johnston man, fighting out of Mayhem Martial Arts, defeated Thompson, from Leicester Kickboxing in England, over five rounds at 72kgs to win his first title as a senior.
“It feels amazing, but it’s only the start,” ‘Kid Dynamite’ Duddy said after a tough five rounds.
Picture caption: Damien Duddy, right, with his brother William, girfriend Sarah McGowan and father Cathal last night.
“That’s the highest level, going from a junior to being in against the best in the business as a senior.”
[adrotate group=”85″]Duddy is no stranger to the big nights, the big shows and the white-hot arenas having won a World title in November 2013 in front of 2,000 people at the Millenium Forum.
Duddy has won World and European titles as a junior, but last night at a packed White Horse Hotel in Derry was new territory.
A split decision win marked a milestone win as Duddy took his first steps on senior title soil.
[adrotate group=”38″]Thompson tested Duddy but, backed by the raucous home crowd, Duddy had his number.
Duddy dropped Thompson in the third round and showed class and guile with a gritty display to take the belt on a night of celebration in the Duddy household at Dundee in St Johnston.
Younger brother William won his first Irish title, collecting the ISKA Irish K1 Junior strap and Damien’s girlfriend, Sarah McGowan, also won an ISKA Irish K1 Junior belt.
“You couldn’t ask for much better; it was a great night and a great show – fair play to all the coaches and everyone who put on the show,” Damien said.
Duddy entered the fight on the back of wins over Garrett Smylie and Glen Power this year already and last night’s title win will open yet more doors for the Donegal man.
Last night’s bout was a part of Mayhem Martial Arts and Fitness’ ‘Showtime 4’ event in the White Horse Hotel, which was jammed to capacity for 18 top notch contests.
William Duddy defeated Shea Leathem of Team Sanda MMA to win an ISKA Irish K1 Junior title.
Persistent issues with the strapping on Leathem’s shin-pads made for a frustrating time for Duddy as the fight became a stop-start affair at times.
[adrotate group=”81″]But Duddy turned on the style and had the crowd on their feet as he powered his way to a win.
McGowan collected an ISKA Irish K1 Junior after beating Chloe Dooley from Larry’s Kickboxing, Carlow. The fight came to a halt in the second stanza with McGowan firmly in command.
Earlier in the night, Paul McNamee from Peak Physique in Letterkenny upset the odds when he got the better of Mayhem’s Luke McCrudden.
McNamee, who trains under Abdul El Absy, continued his unbeaten run in a cracking 86kgs bout. The Convoy man was in a brawl over the opening two rounds, but came on the stronger in the third round with McCrudden given a count as McNamee took the win.
Declan Houston from Mayhem won an ISKA Irish K1 Junior title as he defeated James Fetherson from KCC Kickboxing, Dublin, but Mayhem’s Gerard Ward was stopped by Charlie Kelly of Jai Sua Muay Thai.
In the night’s main event, the White Horse came alive to salute local favourite Eamon Deane, as the Mayhem man lit the touchpaper in a brilliant win over Jamie Moore (Warrios Thai Boxing, Dublin) for the Mayhem Promotions Middleweight title.
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