Hard-hitting Blair makes it a hat-trick

KILLYMAN’S Blair Kirk has made an impressive start to his boxing career, winning his third Ulster title in just two years since making the switch from kickboxing.

Having been a rising star in kickboxing under the tutelage of his father, Stewart, who ran Killyman Kickboxing Club for many years, Blair found his progression came to a shuddering stop during the Covid-19 Pandemic. And after that global issue, the sport itself somewhat ground to a halt, which led to the Kirk’s changing direction.

With Blair keen to resume action in the pugilistic arts, Stewart decided boxing was the way forward and with that, Killyman Boxing Club was born. And after a few moves, which stemmed more from naivety in their new sports finer points – with Blair being blooded against vastly more experienced fighters rather than in the novice ranks – they soon found their feet and the now 14-year-old Drumglass High School pupil hit the ground running since making his Marquess of Queensbury Rules debut in March 2022.

“Blair was one of the biggest reasons I turned away from kickboxing,” Stuart explained. “After Covid kickboxing died a death and we couldn’t get fights and he was looking to get in the ring. Then he got talking to one wee boxer who was telling him about having 30-something fights and he was the same age, so I looked into it and joined the IABA and moved into boxing.

“To be fair, it was a bigger change moving into amateur boxing than I thought it would be. Kickboxing is more aggressive, with fighters moving forward whereas in boxing, Blair is coming up against these other wee boys who are picking him off.

“He didn’t win all his early fights, he was beaten six times at the start. To be honest, I didn’t really understand there was novice boxing and open boxing, so Blair was going in against people with 30 fights instead of in with novice guys with less than six!

“But he’s developed into one of the best in Ireland since then, so it’s holding him in good stead now!”

Last year, Blair marked himself out as a fighter of pedigree by winning the Ulster title by third round stoppage before going on to make it a provincial double in the Ulster Nine County Championships, which he also won, beating a reigning Irish champion en route.

This year, his success in the ring has continued with the Mid Ulster crown arriving before he produced a powerful performance in the 46kg Boy 4 Ulster final, stopping the Derry champion in the first round to qualify for the All-Ireland’s in Roscommon in a couple of weeks time.

Blair will be in good shape for the national championships, into which he will go as one of the favourites for the title, having enjoyed sparring against some top talent in the Banbridge club and at Belfast’s Immaculata club. He will also continue his rigorous training regime and he will take part in a warm-up bout against an older opponent who is a four-time Irish finalist, which will ensure he’s ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

As well as Blair, Killyman Boxing Club has a growing membership which boasts plenty of talent, several of whom just missed out on titles in recent weeks.