All-Ireland kickboxing title for Shannon fighter

Josh Vincent from Shannon was crowned Irish light heavyweight kickboxing champion at the Oakwood Arms in Shannon last Saturday when he defeated the champion, Villa Popa from Wexford.
The contest ended in the third of five scheduled rounds due to injury. The scorecards revealed that the Shannon clubman was well ahead at the time.
Popa had won the title in Ennis last December against Ennis Kickboxing Club fighter Billy Kelly.
Saturday’s victory marked Vincent’s first Irish title in kickboxing but he has previously won national awards in karate. The Shannon man will defend his title in a rematch with Popa in Wexford on June 25.
The new champion is trained by his father, Howie who has competed at the World Karate Championships.
Next week in Dublin, two members of the Shannon club, both named Michael O’Neill, will fight for national titles at cruiserweight and super heavyweight.