Bleary's Grey has sights set on lifting European honour

Saturday 28th May will see fighters gather to attend the now long standing tradition of the annual kickboxing and boxing fight night at the Seagoe Hotel.
Simon GreySimon Grey
Simon Grey

“The Gathering XI” has announced its bill of fighters and once more local promoters Davy Boyd and Mike Jefferson have suprassed themselves in bringing the Province’s top fighters to face Mid Ulster’s own men and women.

This time the top of the bill is a European title challenge, with a Spanish team flying in from Malaga to take on local Lurgan man, Simon Grey. Yet Simon is only one of five locals who are aiming to add title belts to their waists. With two Northern Ireland kickingboxing titles, an all Ireland K1 and an orthadox boxing NI title, it’s hard to fathom where these and all the other 18 bouts are supposed to be squeezed in on one evening of high octance fighting, but that’s the plan.

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For every fighter their bout is the most important and prestigious, but Bleary born and raised Simon Grey has the priviledge to be top of this prestigious bill. Simon is the “Quiet Man” of kickboxing, holding NI, British and Five Nations titles across various sanctioning bodies, but modesty forbids the former Bible College student of ever boasting of such. Coach Davy Boyd has long known of his student’s talents and has invested heavily to fly a Spanish team in from Malaga to take on Simon in the Seagoe. The five round title bout will decide who is the best cruiserweight kickboxer in Europe, the local hope being that Simon adds another belt to his collection.

It is not however just kickboxing that is offered up for titles on this show but also the explosive style of K1 and here again David Boyd’s gym is offering up another young local talent in the shape of Lurgan lad Patrick Doran. The Southern regional college student has high hopes after his meteoric rise in the sport over the past few years. Mark Murphy will challenge a Cookstown opponent for the NI middleweight title as he aims to go one further than his second place in the 2014 Ulster Championship and lift the NI title belt.

This is a massive bill of 18 confirmed fights, no juniors, no exhibtions, just good old fashioned hard fought match ups and five title bouts in a four star hotel. Doors open at 1830 til late.