Former local signs dream deal

Israel Adesanya, a Wanganui-trained kickboxer, has signed a deal to take on the world's best. Photo/Supplied

Former Wanganui kickboxer Israel "Iz" Adesanya has realised a long-held dream after signing a multi-fight deal with the Glory World Series.

Nigerian-born Adesanya will fight in the middleweight (85kg/187lb) division, home to top contenders such as Artem Levin, Joe "Stitch Em Up" Schilling and Wayne Barrett, all world-renowned fighters. He is the first New Zealander to join the series.

Adesanya has long been a dominant force in New Zealand, where he has captured several national titles. He has had 31 fights, losing just one, and that was on February 16 in China against world champion Simon Marcus, of Canada.

Fighting out of Auckland's CityKickboxing, the orthodox Muay Thai stylist has fought around the world and the battle with the highly regarded Marcus brought Adesanya considerable attention.

The two had a war in a WLF Kunlun world title fight which Marcus won after an extra round was added. Most in the crowd and those watching the on-line streamed spectacle thought Adesanya had won. Unfortunately, the Thai judges thought otherwise and handed the victory to the defending champion.

Marcus, a Canadian-Jamaican Muay Thai kickboxer, the WMC, WPMF Muay Thai world champion, is ranked the No1 light-heavyweight Muay thai fighter in the world.

Adesanya began his kick-boxing training at Broughton's Gym near the racecourse in Wanganui, which no longer exists. One of his novice mates to start alongside him was Kyle Gallacher, who is off to represent New Zealand in a world title bout in Malaysia in May.

"Israel and I became good mates and always used to swear we would become world title fighters and now he's really doing it - he's made it. What he's done is huge," Gallacher said yesterday.

Israel arrived in Wanganui with his family from Rotorua in 2006.

His parents, mother Taiwo and father Femi, and siblings had arrived in New Zealand from Nigeria in 2001.

"After a few years in Wanganui, Israel went to study graphic design at Ucol, but finally decided on a kick-boxing career instead," Femi said. "The fight in China just a couple of weeks ago was all-out war. I cringed when I watched it, but like most people I thought Israel had won, but the judges thought otherwise.

"He's still in China at the moment and doesn't know when his next fight is," Femi said.

Glory's next event takes place on Saturday, March 8, in Zagreb, Croatia, but Adesanya will not be going.

Meanwhile, two Wanganui fighters improved vastly on recent performances during bouts in Wellington at the weekend.

Jono Anderson won his bout against Wellingtonian Lachie Bowker, while Lee Kara lost after an epic battle with Tranzformers Porirua fighter Paul Vitaliano.

Both Wanganui fighters are members of the Assassins Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym and coached by Gallacher.

They were fighting on the undercard of the South Pacific Professional Muay Thai title bout at the Capital Punishment 24 Night of Champions tournament at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.

Gallacher said Anderson was stepping up in class and rose to the occasion magnificently, while Kara was having his first amateur fight.

"Jono did a great job and really rose to the occasion, while Lee fought extremely well in his first amateur bout.

"Both have improved dramatically from their last fights," Gallacher said.