Washington kickboxer wins pro national title
Washington kickboxer Ryan ‘Ryu’ Foster has won the ICO Professional 70kg English K1 title.
Foster, from Barmston, Washington, travelled to HastingsattheendofSeptember and beat experienced and flamboyant opponent Zeith Mon, from Unique Gym in Medway, Kent, over five threeminute rounds.
A high-quality fight saw both kickboxers pull out all the stops to try and claim victory, with both demonstrating throwing techniques that most fighters can only dream of.
Foster started the strongest, his speed and power seeming to catch Mon by surprise, as he usually fights a number of weight categories below 70kg.
In fact, victory for Foster – who trains at the Armageddon Fit Strength and Conditioning Academy/Armageddon Fit Spartans – was his second professional English title, as he also holds the IKF English 66kg title.
His teammate Paul Turnock, from Concorde, did not fare quite so well, however.
Fighting an unbeaten opponent in his first full contact bout in over two years, Turnock produced a brilliant performance over three rounds and was unfortunate to lose a majority decision.
*Billy Joe Saunders will face Argentinian Marcelo Esteban Coceres on his American debut in Los Angeles on November 9.
Saunders will put his WBO super-middleweight title on the line for the first time after clinching the vacant title over Shefat Isufi in Stevenage earlier this year.
Coceres has won all 29 of his professional bouts.