By Mairead Moriarty
HORAN’S Nite Club in town was the set for a different type of entertainment for Tralee on Saturday night.
The showcase of muay-thai and K1 kickboxing went down a treat with the crowd who gathered to see local fighters compete in amateur and professional fights.
The talent on display was as strong as the smell of deep heat that seeped through the arena and there was no shortage of excitement both inside and outside the ring. Hosted by Champion Thai Boxing Tralee, the night was filled with excitement and adrenalin as the locals of Tralee gathered to cheer for their fighting heroes.
The entertainment kicked off with an impressive display of amateur fighting and even the girls got a chance to throw in their punches. Tralee’s Monika Starosz and Castlegar’s Whitney Huish put on a great show but the fight ended in one of the many draws of the night.
Next up was the highlight of the night where 16 year old Anthony Lonergan of Champion Thaiboxing Tralee completely stole the show.
He beat his equally impressive and tough opponent Matty Ryan of Westside Kickboxing Athlone to win his first Junior Amateur K1 Irish Title.
The audience erupted as he was declared champion following a tough match and awarded with the title belt. Anthony was very obviously ecstatic and soaked up every ounce of the much deserved euphoria from the cheering crowds.
What a great kid and an inspiration for his peers. His delight was still splashed across his face when we caught up with him backstage. Check out the video below by Murt Mulcahy.
The talent was in full swing and the excitement high with the professional fights towards the end of the night. Tralee’s Jjedrzej (JJ) Rajca took an unfortunate blow close to his left eye in his first round with Aaron Browne of Chaiyo Thaiboxing.
The ringside medics were keeping a cautious eye on the fight and despite the obvious presence of blood in the ring throughout the fight, JJ managed to finish all 3 rounds, resulting in a win for Aaron Browne.
The night certainly prepared many of the fighters from Champion Thai Boxing Tralee who are set to represent Kerry in Thailand over the next few weeks.
