Drury wins world title

BY GLENN ELLARD (from the South Coast Register)

16 Aug, 2010

AN emotional Tim Drury dedicated his world kickboxing title to his late father after winning before a near capacity crowd at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

Drury, from the NSW Central Coast, had to overcome a torrid seven-round encounter with tough Japanese fighter Hopper Nagawa before he could claim the ISKA world professional welterweight kickboxing crown.

The tenacious battle between two experienced warriors of the sport repeatedly had the huge crowd on its feet, cheering madly as each landed telling blows.

Big kicks and punches were traded, but each fighter showed his toughness by not flinching under the impact of solid blows.

However, Drury seemed to have the edge from the outset, with techniques that were slightly sharper, and attacks that hit their target more often.

Drury started the better, possibly inspired by the national anthems at the start of the bout that resulted in around 700 voices singing Advance Australia Fair.

As the bout continued Nagawa appeared lighter and faster on his feet, but Drury seemed to have the edge in stamina during the punishing encounter.

In the end the judges awarded Drury a unanimous points win, sparking jubilation among a large contingent of the crowd.

Drury roared his delight, before dedicating his win to his father, who died four years earlier.

“He taught me that if I worked hard, I could get whatever I wanted,” he told the gathering.

Drury’s win was just the second of the night for fighters from the blue corner in the 13-bout card, which was not good news for representatives from the local Southern Fitness and Martial Arts Centre who all took position in the blue corner.

The only local fighter to score a victory was Brad Traynor in the first bout of the night, as he took on Daniel Kimber of Picton in the light heavyweight division.

The judges were split on points, reflecting an even first round before Kimber was stronger in the second, and Traynor came home strongly to claim the third with solid punches that resulted in a standing eight-count being applied to Kimber.

 

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