Knockout display nets top title

Jamie McGuigan (centre) with Fighting Tigers Gym coaches Andy Chambers (left) and Phil Eaton (right). Picture courtesy Free the Light Company

The Fighting Tigers Gym talent was crowned ICO English Super Welterweight K1 rules champion after a brilliant victory at the Fight Zone event in Barnsley.

McGuigan triumphed in a rematch with Jamie Clarke, who he previously beat in July 2013. Clarke took the fight with McGuigan on a week’s notice last time and came up a weight division to do so.

This time Clarke was at his comfortable weight of 69kg and brought to the table a year’s worth of wins, including a European Championship gold medal and the ICO Super Welterweight Northern Area K1 title.

McGuigan also had a year’s worth of wins under his belt, however, as well as an IKF Light Middleweight Southern Area K1 title and ICO Super Welterweight Southern Area K1 title.

The fight was set to be explosive and it didn’t disappoint. Cheered on by 25 travelling fans, McGuigan wasted no time in reminding home town fighter Clarke of his power with a devastating leg kick which Clarke felt.

Both sounded each other out in the early exchanges, but McGuigan was the more dominant and aggressive, probably giving him round one.

Both fighters went toe to toe during a very even second round. Clarke landed a couple of big shots and clearly won round three even though McGuigan landed a big shot of his own.

McGuigan started round four with a brutal jumping front kick and later landed a precise straight right hand which floored his opponent and the fight was over.

If you want to follow in McGuigan’s footsteps, visit www.fightingtigers.co.uk