A National Kickboxing Championships in Limerick

The first champion crowned was 16-year-old Max Murray from Glengormley. Max showcased incredible skill and determination, securing two wins by TKO to claim the 16-17-year-old -75kg division title. With no 65-70kg division available, Max willingly moved up a weight class, eager to gain experience and secure a fight. And not only did he fight—he won. This marks another impressive milestone in Max’s growing list of accomplishments, including the full-contact title he claimed earlier this year at the WKA NI Championships in Larne.

Next, Lewis Cregg had a stellar performance in the -80kg division. Benefiting from a fortunate draw, Lewis advanced directly to the final, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Adam Tomazowski from Underground Tullamore. This adds yet another accolade to Lewis’s achievements, including his full-contact title secured earlier this year at the WKA NI Championships in Larne.

Following these successes, 13-year-old Jude Young from Saintfield became the third ProKick fighter to lift a title. Competing in the 13-14-year-old under-50kg division, Jude fought through three tough matches to emerge as the new light-contact champion. Adding to the excitement was the presence of his father, Ian Young, a former WKN World Super-Welterweight Champion, who proudly supported Jude on his journey to victory.

The takeaway message for these three champions is clear: no matter how many setbacks you face, perseverance, hard work, and a commitment to learning your craft will always pay off.

The rest of the ProKick team also had commendable performances. John McCann narrowly missed out on gold, taking home silver after a hard-fought final, this wasn't the best day at the office for John, he is much better than this performance.

Leo Smith showed incredible determination and skill, battling through two exceptional elimination matches to become the favorite for the championship title. However, in the final round, his momentum faltered, and he narrowly missed out on victory, earning a well-deserved silver medal in the 11-12 under 40kg division.

A special mention goes to Ethan Rodgers, who competed in one of the toughest Light-Contact 14-15-year-old -60kg categories I’ve seen in a long time. It took incredible courage and resilience for him to hold his ground against a more experienced opponent, who was unquestionably hitting far too hard and pushing the boundaries of the rules. In a fitting turn of events, Ethan’s opponent, Jade O’Shea, was disqualified in the final for using abusive language towards the referee. Justice was rightfully served.

Special recognition goes to ProKick’s three debutants—Lewis Kirk, Johnny Singh, and Luke Crosby—who gained invaluable experience and lessons that will undoubtedly shape their kickboxing careers moving forward.

Coach Billy Murray reflected on the event, saying: "This championship reflects the grassroots strength of kickboxing across Ireland. It’s this foundation that breeds so much success for both Northern and Southern Irish fighters on the global stage. The moral of the story is to never give up—keep pushing forward, striving to improve, and remember that hard work always pays off."

In closing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this event a success. A special thank you goes to the parents of our ProKick kids for dedicating their time and resources, whether by traveling down on the day or the night before—we deeply appreciate your support. We also want to acknowledge the championship organisers for their incredible hard work and effort in bringing everything together. Thank you all!

For fans eager to witness live kickboxing, ProKick will host an exciting event on September 20th at the Stormont Hotel. Don’t miss out—grab the remaining tickets now.