KICK-BOXING enters a new ring cycle for 2013 in York.

Tony Dias and Gaz Watkinson, the men behind the United Masters gym and promotional team who have established cage-fighting in the city, will open their new year with “Ring Series 2” next month.

And the event to be held at the Energise Centre in Acomb promises to be an explosive engagement with no fewer than seven title showdowns already guaranteed on the Saturday, February 9 bill.

The inaugural Ring series show comprised a day-time start at which junior fighters were able to sample vital experience in the arena and also to test the water for an event differing from the duo’s Cage Confrontation shows in that the contests are fought in the confines of a normal boxing ring rather than an octagonal enclosure.

But the second ring event will be a night-time show aimed at providing a full-on flurry of fights.

Among the highlights will be the outings of York aces Wes Nunns and Stu Phillips, who fight out of the United Masters Academy in Layerthorpe which is run by Dias and Watkinson.

Nunns, who recently won the ISKA mixed martial arts title will be up against Rob Hardman for the WRSA cruiserweight ptroK1 area crown. The bout’s pro K1 status means that virtually anything goes in the conflict.

Phillips, who was crowned the ISKA world champion in Holland just over two months ago, is scheduled to fight Scunthorpe’s John Dyson for the Ring Series belt.

There will also be a women’s England title contest between Chloe Hinchcliffe of Leeds Cage and Newquay’s Kate Jackson.

Dias hailed the confirmation of three fighters on the February 9 bill from the Legions Thai-boxing gym based in York’s Fifth Avenue.

Liam Goodwin, joint Legions owner Al Chambers, and the upcoming Liam Brough will all be in action.

Goodwin tackles Marius Daublis for the WRSA area K1 belt with Chambers up against Brian Jack Taylor of the Spartans club in a WRSA super-middleweight K1 bout.

Manchester opponent Billy Hatton, meanwhile, stands between Brough and the WRSA ‘B’-class area Thai crown.

Said Dias: “The show is a full-on night show, the first one in the Ring Series, and it is aimed at keeping York on the map.

“There are seven title contests in all and the Legions club are leading the way. They have some really classy fighters who have won creditable titles. Those lads come to fight.”

Doors open at Energise at 5pm with the first fight scheduled for 6pm. Tickets are available by phoning Dias on 07956 612667 or Watkinson on 07798 765259.


Legions on the march for unit

THE Legions Thai-boxing club in Fifth Avenue is to host a fund-raising sparring session later this month.

The event, which will feature several guest world champions across the range of martial arts, will start at 11am on Saturday, January 26. Money raised will go to the special baby care unit at York Hospital.

For details phone Legions coach Dave Phillips on 07946 477001.