There has been a lot of activity in kickboxing in Sheffield over the year 2009. Local kickboxers have been fighting both on home shows and out of town.
Local fighters have done quite well this season bringing back quite a few trophies.
Let us now reminisce on how succesful local clubs have been.

First mention has to go to newcomer Marco Portaluri from Craig's Kapap gym who has kept his record at 3 wins with no losses (and believe me he has been a pain to match up with that record!!!)

Feel free to post anything positive about local kickboxers.

For me everyone who steps in a ring and gives 100% is a winner... regardless if they win or lose...there have been some great fights in 2009, lets have some more in the New Year, looking forward to the Feb show already, were in the gym tonite ...........

Craig.

For me everyone who steps in a ring and gives 100% is a winner... regardless if they win or lose...there have been some great fights in 2009, lets have some more in the New Year, looking forward to the Feb show already, were in the gym tonite ...........

Craig.

Thats exactly what i like to hear. You are spot on with what you said about win/lose or draw everyone deserves a mention.
Im surprised that more of the "kickboxing crowd" have not come on here with mentions of their own guys?

I`d like to post a special thank you to all my students, young and old, who have trained so hard over the past few years.
I`m going to miss you all, and I hope that, for those that can, you can continue your training at AFK, as we are under the same organisation RCSU, and I would like to think that a few of you (especially Elly and Cara) will eventually compete and kick some ass (instead of mine)
And the rest of you, keep up your fitness, stick together, and don`t get lazy!!

Alan Willis 40 year old now europion champ can't get better than that world title next muka

I`d like to post a special thank you to all my students, young and old, who have trained so hard over the past few years.
I`m going to miss you all, and I hope that, for those that can, you can continue your training at AFK, as we are under the same organisation RCSU, and I would like to think that a few of you (especially Elly and Cara) will eventually compete and kick some ass (instead of mine)
And the rest of you, keep up your fitness, stick together, and don`t get lazy!!

Salaams Superninja
I am truly honoured that a champion of your calibre (World Class) has recommended their students to come and train with me.
It means a lot to me , it really does!
Its a shame you wont pop along to kick Rachel and Becky's arses for me ;)
If you are ever bored and fancy some new people to kick in let me know and ill arrange a sparring day for the 3 of you.

Carl Tankard has took k1 by storm and now is and English Champion also fought in portugal but lost because of a cut

Carl Tankard has took k1 by storm and now is and English Champion also fought in portugal but lost because of a cut

Yes I was actually going to mention Carl Tankard. I have met a few of those guys from the same gym. Some of them have actually been down to AFK as we have fighters at similar weights and those guys are not bad at all.

What is his full record? I know in Sheffield at the same weight there are Marco Portaluri from Kapap who is 3wins (undefeated) and Robin Hewson from AFK who is 7 wins 4 losses and also ISKA Northern area champion.
:D

The story so far,

Achievements by kickboxers in Sheffield for 2009 have been as follows:

Ant "Superman" Stuchbury (AFK) :
2 1st Round KO wins this year one in Darnall and one in Swadlincote.
Ant has been criticised for not being as active as perhaps he could have been but his next fight will be for the ISKA Northern Area title in February.

Marco Portaluri (Kapap) :
Marco won both fights this year keeping his record clean. His last fight was against an opponent who was more experienced and also from a very good club (a club who dont lose very often at all!).

Yousif Ibrahim (AFK)
Yousif has been out of the game for a year due to a recurring injury. Yousif showed none of the ring rust we expected from him in his comeback fight.
He defeated the more experienced Joe Boffey in an excellent display of Kickboxing.

Rachel Crosby (AFK)
Rachel has had 3 fights this year , Drawing the first in Liverpool losing narrowly in her 2nd fight at Grosvenor.
Rachel shone through on her latest bout in Luton dropping her opponent in the 1st round and defeating her back peddling opponent on points.
At 54kg I dont think there are many female kickboxers in Sheffield that can punch like Rachel or are as tough.

Becky Usher (AFK)
Quote from a local instructor "everyone's favourite blonde" :hihi:
Bex had her first fight on the last show at skate central. She fought the more experienced Emma Goodwin (WAKO GB team member) and came back with a well deserved DRAW.

Mohammed Ismail Willis (AFK/Andy Marlows gym)
Willis has trained for over 25 years starting out with Andy Marlow. Willis still trains with Andy but is also a regular training partner for Ant Stuchbury at AFK and has been training with AFK on a regular basis for the last 3 years.
Willis narrowly lost his comeback fight (at the age of 40!!!)
He recently won a European title in Nottingham

Michael Gabbitas (Kapap)
Mick has won both his kickboxing fights in the 1st round!!! One with leg kicks and one with a solid right hand.
NOT to be taken lightly.

Robin Hewson (AFK)
Robin hewson is the current ISKA Northern area champion at welterweight.
He won his Area title in February and regularly takes part in the AFK 1st Blood tournaments reaching the finals both times.
He holds a respectable record of 7 wins and 4 losses (2 of those losses in the finals of the 1st blood series)

Farad
Marco and Michael are my heroes. However I think we should also mention Ian "Smokin' Aces" Stones, who is contemplating making a come back this year.

Keep the events going, they are top.

Yours

Jonny

Farad
Marco and Michael are my heroes. However I think we should also mention Ian "Smokin' Aces" Stones, who is contemplating making a come back this year.

Keep the events going, they are top.

Yours

Jonny

Hi Jonny
Thank you for the moral support.
Marco will be fighting on the next one hopefully he will come out of that one with a record of 4-0 ?
LOL
Michael is amazing too he has already KO'd his last 2 opponents on AFK shows and also TKO'd one of Lee Chester's lads on Storm Force.