Kick-boxers sweat it out for glory

The annual kick-boxing fight night recently took place in White River. Fighters from Secunda, Middelburg XKT, Lowveld Fight Club Barberton, Wolf Martial Arts Nelspruit and White River Kickboxing took part.

More than 70 members of all clubs attended the morning development training and boys and girls of all ages participated. The overall first- and second-place trophies for the team sessions were awarded to Antonie Hattingh and Jaco Louw, as well as JJ van Dyk and Wesley Grobler respectively.

The evening was well attended by supporters. It took place at White River Primary School’s hall. A boxing stage was erected in the centre and the announcer was Bertus Smit of Lumia Events. Fighters got to walk in on their song of choice and the atmosphere was electrifying as each climbed through the ropes into the ring. The crowd cheered them on as they were fighting. Blood, sweat and tears were seen as the three rounds of three minutes each progressed. Four light-contact, four full-contact, a team event and two K1 rule fights took place.

The referees were Brand Ehlers of Lowveld Fight Club in Barberton and Pieter de Klerk of Middelburg Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies.

Each kick-boxer was awarded a glass trophy, whether they won or lost. The main event was the K1 fight between Eben Bothma of Lowveld Kickboxing in Mbombela and Duval Coetzer of Xander Wolves in Nelspruit. Coetzer was the winner but both were rewarded with the overall winner and second-best trophies.

The athletes were very well trained and except for a bloody nose here and there, there were no serious injuries. Medics and, the ambulance were on standby throughout the evening and fighters were weighed in and checked before the matches began.

Without the sponsors for the event, Xtreme Signs Nelspruit, Phoenix Security, Lumia Events, Pick n Pay White River, Selected Portfolios, White River Primary School and DVS Electrical, it wouldn’t have been possible.