PERSHORE kickboxer Mathew Kurtlingus won a thrilling battle for the vacant World Kickboxing Association Midlands Area super-heavyweight title at a packed Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
Kurtlingus withstood an early barrage from Tony Butler from the UKCBA Evesham gym to force a fourth-round retirement win.
The opening two rounds were all Butler. He had Kurtlingus hanging on after shipping right hands, but then dramatically started to come apart in the third.
Butler was breathing heavily and was leaden-footed and Kurlingus sensed his chance.
He piled on the pressure and left Butler with his left eye swollen shut and a bloodied nose by the end of the fourth.
The injuries brought about his retirement.
Terry Ludlow brought another belt back to the Pershore gym.
He won the WKA Midlands middleweight title by forcing Derby's Craig Freeman to retire after the opening round of their five-round clash. Ricky Glover from the UKCBA gym in Evesham also looks destined for honours judging by his first-round demolition of Coventry's Vinny Brown.
Glover forced three counts to bring about the stoppage after just 78 seconds.
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