From the International Kickboxing Federation’s News Page (http://ikfkickboxing.com)

This coming Friday night, January 9th, Cellar Kickboxing’s Chris Cichon will meet up with England’s Alex Sirman for the vacant IKF Amateur Full Contact Rules Light Middleweight World Title at the Robert’s Night Club in Mounds View, Minnesota, USA.

Although he has been promoting for years, this event is the third in a row of IKF Promoter Bobby Anderson that will feature a large IKF Title. This past November 15th, Anderson’s Warriors Fight Promotions featured Jorden Allen of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, (13-8-1/2) Vs Dee Jay Jones of Kernersville, North Carolina, USA, (17-8/2) for the vacant IKF Amateur FCR Lightweight North American Title. When the smoke cleared, Allen walked away with the title by unanimous decision, 48-47, 48-47, 48-47.

Prior to this event, back on September 19th, Anderson hosted an IKF Amateur World title bout when Adam McDermid of Mt. Iron, Minnesota, USA, (23-4-1/6) defeated Daniel Brison of Hurricane, West Virginia, USA, (8-2/5) to win the vacant IKF Amateur FCR Cruiserweight World Title by unanimous decision, 50-43, 50-43 and 49-44.

Friday’s event will be the first IKF event of what looks to be an busy and exciting new year. Cichon has been well known with the IKF here for years. He had first challenged the previous number 2 and number 3 contenders, Pat Sheehan of Sittngbourn, Kent, England, (8-1/2) and Matt Gilbert of Rainham, Kent, England, (6-3/0) however both had to miss their shot at the title. Sheehan had an injury to deal with while Gilbert lost his bid for the title on November 30th last year in Kent, England when Alex Sirman defeated him by unanimous decision 30-27. 29-28. 30-27. Gilbert’s trainer Colin Payne thought it only fair to pull him from the match-up and give the shot to Sirman who deserved it by the victory. It was an honorable thing you rarely see trainers do, but that should give you an idea as to the integrity of Mr. Payne.

It didn’t matter to Cichon who he would face though. He’s coming off probably the best year of his life having won both the IKF Light Middleweight USA Title back on May 30th, 2008 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA when he defeated Leroy Walters by unanimous decision, 50-43 all 3 judges.

That IKF title was followed up by 3 straight “Impressive” victories at last years 2008 IKF World Classic Tournament. in the opening round of fighting, Cichon defeated Dan Silny of Miami, Florida, USA by TKO at :29 seconds of round 1. Later that day he defeated Travis Jones of Blairsville, Georgia, USA by unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28 & 29-28. In his Championship bout he defeated who had been the number 1 contender, Pat Sheehan of Sittngbourn, Kent, England by KO at 1:12 of round 1.

This was all followed up with yet another Tournament Title victory by unanimous decision over Michael Davenport only a couple of weeks later. In all, Cichon went undefeated in 2008 with a perfect record of 6-0 and hadn’t lost since June of 2007. Simply put, “He’s on a Roll!”

Cichon also held the IKF Amateur Full Contact Rules Central USA Regional Light Middleweight title which he had won back on February 11, 2006 in Waterloo, Iowa, USA when he defeated Frank Young of Bettendorf, Iowa, by unanimous decision 40-36, 40-36 & 40-36. Cichon’s title was retired when he won his IKF Amateur Full Contact Rules United States Light Middleweight Title on May 30th, 2008. If he wins the World title on Friday, he will retire the USA Title since a fighter only keeps the larger of a title in the same weightclass.

Not much is known about contender Alex Sirman, which doesn’t make it easy for Cichon. Sometimes it’s the fighters you know little about that tend to be the biggest challenge. This may work heavily in Sirman’s favor come fight night. He probably knows a lot about Cichon though since he has been so active and had his fights well documented. As for Sirman, the only bout we here at the IKF were able to find him in from last year was the victory over Matt Gilbert and a victory in October of 2008 over another English fighter named James Penny by decision.

This being said, there will be more pressure on Cichon in this bout as he enters the ring as a heavily favored multi time Champion. In the other corner, the little known Sirman will be the obvious out of town underdog that could turn out to be the ultimate spoiler who could walk out of the ring Friday night as a new World Champion. With these two story lines colliding, it will make for some great drama leading up to the first IKF Title fight of 2009. If you don’t have a ticket yet, you may want to pick one up now. This main event will be the ultimate ending to a full night of Kickboxing, Bobby Anderson Style.

Remember fight fans, favored or underdog, once these two Gladiators enter the ring Friday night, history means little.
What counts Friday is what they bring to the show after they touch gloves at center ring.