Kickboxing: Relieved Johnson keeps title

Chris Johnson displays his elation at retaining his national 85kg K1 title after a split-decision win against Charles August in Hastings on Saturday night. Photo / Paul Taylor

Relief was written all over the face of Hawke's Bay's two-time world kickboxing champion Chris "The White Sniper" Johnson on Saturday night.

"This has been more than 10 years in the making. I've wanted this for so long," Johnson said after his spectacular split-decision victory over fellow Aussie-based Bay fighter Charles "The Heat" August in the feature bout at the Combat Kings Return of Legends show in the Hastings Sports Centre. August, 36, beat Johnson, 35, in their last fight 11 years ago.

With his win in the action-packed five three-minute-round battle Sydney maths teacher Johnson retained his national 85kg K1 title. "I will could happily retire now but I will carry on fighting," he said.

Johnson has been involved in martial arts since he was 6 and will fight for Australia's national under-80kg title in five weeks.

"I've got to drop down to 79kg from 88kg but I'm used to doing that," he said. He dedicated the victory to the youngest of his two sons, 18-month-old Jude, who has been in and out of hospital with cerebral palsy.

August said afterwards, "It wasn't my night. Chris was awesome and I was disappointed with myself and my effort." He said there would be no rematch.

"Win or lose I'm hanging up my gloves after my next fight."

A self-employed fire system installer, August was referring to his November 7 bout in his home city of Adelaide against Aucklander Zac Fatamaka for the IKBF under-85kg title.

Before Saturday night's fight, the Bay's best for at least 29 years, August had won 41 of his 55 fights, 35 by knockout.

Former Wairoa kickboxer Jamie "VDK" Van Der Kuijl's pro MMA debut lasted 51 seconds. He was knocked out by Waikato's Matt "The Viper" Vaile in the first round of a bout set for three five-minute rounds.

In the other main card fight, and the only female fight on the night, Aucklander Daria "The Boss" Smith scored a unanimous points win against Wellingtonian Genitane "AAA" Lupi in their five two-minute-round kickboxing clash. It was sweet revenge for Smith who had lost to Lupi, a mother of three and actor-stuntwoman, when they met in a comp last year.

Several of the Bay's promising fighters featured in undercard bouts. Kelvyn Jones of Hawke's Bay Combined Martial Arts proved his build-up to the November World Kickboxing and Karate Association Unified World Championships in Spain is on track with an RSC win against Bryce Gambirazzi of Hawke's Bay Orphans after Gambirazzi collected a cut to the eye.