Gary “Belfast Boy” Hamilton of Northern Ireland will make his return to the ring after five years of layoff. He will headline an upcoming “made-in Prokick” event billed as “Lord of the Ring” with Douglas Morrison of Scotland.
Promoted by Hamilton’s trainer Billy Murray, former four-division world champion in full contact, the fight show will take place at Stormont Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland on October 26, 2019. In the main event, Hamilton and Morrison in full contact in seven two-minute rounds for the World Kickboxing Network International Super Welterweight title.
Hamilton and Morrison first met in February 2001. The contest ended in the last round with the Belfast native taking the win by technical knockout after landing left hook to the body, which dropped his Scottish opponent, although the latter beat the eight-count the referee waved the fight off in the final seconds.
As many as 18 years later the veteran-kickboxers square off for the second time. The non-title bout is scheduled for seven rounds in Full Contact at super welterweight (72.6 kg).
Over the course of Hamilton’s career, he held the WKN World Full Contact title in two different weight classes. He won the featherweight and lightweight belts against then defending champion Pastor Pascal of France by knockout in Round 4 in 2002 in France and challenger Paolo Renna of Belgium by knockout in Round 5 in 2014 in Northern Ireland, respectively.
“Gary has been thinking about his return for a long time now,” Murray shared. “I told him if he was serious, then yes I would help him. He has been back training for around 6 months on and off and he has convinced me that he definitely wants another match.”
“Whether it’s a final match, who knows,” the “Lord of the Ring” promoted continued. “Rest assured he still has the talent and the fire burning within. We have three months until the event date and my job as a coach and a promoter is to make sure that Gary Hamilton will be the Belfast Boy of old.”
On the other hand, Morrison is a former British, European and World Full-Contact star. He is trained by Albert Ross.
“Douglas has wanted this re-match with Gary Hamilton for such a long time after losing to him all those years ago,” Morrison stated. “Douglas feels the time is right for this fight, and to win in Belfast away from home will be even sweeter.”
“Lord of the Ring” celebrates 30 years when Murray lifted his first crown as a world champion. In the co-main event of “Lord of the Ring,” newly crowned WKN Intercontinental Welterweight Champion Johnny “Swift” Smith of Northern Ireland will defend his belt from Shuhei Sone of Japan in oriental rules in five three-minute rounds.
Meanwhile, here is one of Hamilton’s previous bouts:
CONAN Daily 