Chad Sugden of Newark Martial Arts Club followed in the footsteps of his father Dean on Saturday night when he became a European kickboxing champion.

Dean Sugden, the chief instructor of the Newark club, was in his son’s corner, giving advice and passing on the benefit of his experience, but the 14-year-old was in confident mood in front of the packed crowd at The Dome at Kelham Hall. He seemed to thrive in the atmosphere, despite facing a French champion three years older than him.

The bout was top of the bill of the amateur fights and lived up to all expectations.

It was a massive risk for the Newark camp to fight for an under-18 title, but Chad is very experienced and had a height and reach advantage.

He was told not to mix it at close quarters because of the maturity of his opponent, and went about his work in clinical fashion.

Punches and kicks were being whipped in from all angles and it looked like the Newarker was in good shape, but the French champion had come to fight and he tried to unsettle his younger opponent with looping hooks and constant pressure.

Chad kept his composure through all the rounds and never let the French fighter win an exchange, and all three judges gave him a unanimous points win.

On a night when he could have been expected to be nervous, he revelled in the occasion and there should be plenty of big nights for him to come in the future.

Before the main event, the evening began with a points victory for Chad’s younger brother Regis (13) over Kieran Lomax from the Cobra Gym in the Black Country.

Next up for Newark was Mark Cooper, coming into the fight unbeaten with three wins coming by the way of knockout, and he saw off the challenge of Middlesbrough’s Colin Whayhill with a unanimous points win.

Chris Oxley from Newark beat Lee Addlesea from the Impact Gym in Sleaford, while Mickey Blackburn returned to the ring after a three-year lay-off and did the Newark club proud with a good win against a very fit and strong Martin Robinson from Sleaford.

Newark’s Lewis Fallon was unlucky to lose his British title fight against Leif Taggart from Middlesbrough, getting badly cut above his eye after accidentally being hit by his opponent’s knee in the final round.

The doctor was called over and stopped the contest, and the fight was judged on the previous four rounds, with Taggart declared as the new champion.

A hugely successful night that was magnificently supported finished with four professional bouts, including Steve Swinburn and Scott Taylor contesting the EFK European title, with a very close split decision going to Taylor of Derby Panthers.

Friday Fight Night 6th June 2008

There was a great night of amateur and professional kickboxing and white collar boxing staged by Newark Martial Arts Club at The Dome at Kelham Hall on Friday night, topped by Commonwealth and British title victories for two of the club’s star performers.

There was a welcome return to Newark for Lex Easdon, former world title opponent of Newark club coach Dean Sugden, but it was Sugden’s son Chad who stole the show with his Commonwealth title victory.

Chad Sugden came to the ring as the current ISKA, BLCC and WKA British Champion, and he was up against the EFK British Champion Scott Allen from Scotland.

Allen, also the current Scottish Junior ABA Champion, came to the ring in confident mood as he jumped over the top rope in readiness for the five two-minute rounds under full contact kickboxing rules.

Sugden dominated a hard- fought first round, taking control with the superior kicking, and although his opponent was instructed to get inside and use his hands and boxing skills, Sugden was more than a match.

Towards the end Allen was holding and trying to unsettle the Newark fighter, but Sugden looked like a chip off the old block as he remained unruffled and started using his physical strength to add to his slick repertoire to take the under 54.5kg title.

Easdon was watching at ringside, with the seven-times world champion having brought some promising young fighters down from his own club in Glasgow where he is now coaching.

His chief cornerman Joseph Chapple said: “We love being down in Newark, because the town and the people are great, and the club has an awesome looking team.

“I was particularly impressed with young Chad. His pace is relentless, with great technique too, and I don’t envy his next opponent.”

Lewis Fallon, Sugden’s club- mate and sparring partner, was matched against Lee Bennett from the Gladiators Gym in Nottingham in a grudge match. The last time they fought it was a declared a draw despite Fallon dropping Bennett in rounds two and three.

This time they were competing over five two-minute rounds for the EFK British title, and Fallon again had Bennett on the canvas in rounds two, three and four.

It looked like it was never going to go the distance, and in the end there was only going to be one winner as Fallon took the title.

The night started with Newark fighter Mark Cooper winning a unanimous points decision against Martin Robinson from the Impact Gym in Sleaford, and that was followed by a rematch between Newark’s Chris Oxley and Alwyn Harris of Black Dragons, Lincoln, at cruiserweight, with Oxley victorious after a controlled performance in a hard-fought contest over three rounds.

Next up was the white collar boxing and local favourite Pete “The Bull” Green. The Newark man threw relentless punches against his equally large opponent, Andy Lloyd from Black Dragons, Lincoln, who replied in kind before Green got the verdict and the crowd went wild.

The next white collar bout saw last minute stand-in Joseph Rafa represent Newark Martial Arts Club, boxing technically well to keep the heavier and unbeaten Luke Majeski from Paviors Rugby Club at bay.

Majeski chased for three rounds, putting in some aggressive work and trying to use his weight advantage, but Rafa kept moving and cruised to a unanimous points win.

Professional Newark kickboxer Craig Allen took his chance to compete for a Midlands title against Will Wright from Lincoln KBA, but Allen took some great blows to the body and there were no complaints from the Newark corner when a close fight was awarded to the Lincoln man.

The night was concluded with three prestige bouts including a fine win by Steven Swinburn from Lincoln over the current WFK world champion Wes Fagan from Stanley in County Durham, and two fights featuring Easdon’s stars of the future Ronnie Clarke and Craig Bradford who both stopped their opponents.

Newark coach Dean Sugden said: “It was good to see Lex back in Newark again and I think we had our best show to date with a great mix of fighters.”