Cathy McAleer lost world title bid on points in Paris at the weekend
Belfast’s Karate queen, Cathy McAleer, was pipped-at-the-post when she challenged for world kickboxing glory at the weekend in Paris France. McAleer who just turned 36 last week came up short in a gallant effort to take the world super-bantamweight title from champion Fadma Basrir of France.
McAleer’s quest to become a two-time world Martial Arts champion will have to wait a bit longer as more work is needed to adjust to the new style of K1-style of kickboxing.
McAleer lost on a narrow points decision to the current champion Fadma Basrir (France) over 4 x 2 min rounds under K1 style rules of kickboxing. The former kickboxing British and Irish champion forced the fight from the first bell right to the end of the last round without taking a backward step.
The Virgin Active general manager, McAleer, thought she had done enough to lift the title but her coach wasn’t so sure. McAleer’s kickboxing coach, Billy Murray, said:
“Cathy equipped herself very well against the current world champion, she pushed the fight right to the end, she actually made the fight. Cathy may have lacked the experience at this style of kickboxing, but certainly made up for it in her fighting spirt – she did amazingly well in this fight and I’m very proud of her.
Murray went on to say: Cathy can hold her head high, this is not her style of fighting, she took the fight in a heart-beat when offered, trained as hard if not harder than any of the fighters I have trained or worked with. Her work ethic was incredible in the run-up to her world title match. When we iron out some further difficulties in fighting styles – Northern Ireland will have another world champion.”
There was better news for ProKick team mate Darren McMullan who also was on the Paris show. The Ballygowan man showed why he he is still in-line and knocking on the door for a WKN world title shot. McMullan outclassed the French champion Mimoun Zahafi to take the score on all three judges cards.
If winning the fight wasn’t enough for McMullan, the current British and intercontinental champion was awarded best fighter of the night and presented with a beautiful Samurai sword from the Promoter, Mr Farid Berrais, from Clichy-Boxing Club France.
Big time kickboxing is coming back to the Ulster Hall scheduled for September news of that along with pictures and video from Cathy and Darren in France can be found on www.prokick.com