Published at 11:09, Thursday, 28 June 2012

CAGE fighter Kevin Thompson has been crowned British light-heavyweight champion of up-and-coming promotion Made 4 the Cage after an emphatic win over Scot Rab Truesdale in Sunderland.

Double win: Martin Thompson, left, with brother Kevin, right and Dave Straughton, of Hokushinko Martial Arts Centre in Workington

And heavyweight brother Martin returned to action with a 35-second win on the same card after a long spell on the sidelines to complete a notable double for the Whitehaven battlers.

Truesdale went in to the title scrap on the back of a six-fight winning streak, while Thompson has recently been focusing on K1 and boxing.

But after being taken to the ground in the opening moments, Thompson, 30, gained the upper hand, sinking in a rear naked choke to force a tap.

“Kevin got the win at Rab’s game,” said Martin. “We were absolutely chuffed to bits. Now he’s the champion, people will want his belt.

“We will keep ticking over and see what happens, but hopefully something will be lined up soon.”

Martin Thompson had to sacrifice a payday to get back in action after almost two years out of the cage due to injury. But it took him only seconds to dismantle Thai Boxer Alex Foreman, from Liverpool.

Such was his reputation as the former top-ranked heavyweight in Britain, that despite internet pleas Thompson was unable to find a match until he offered to fight for expenses only.

“I had to fight for nothing just to get the fight,” said Martin. “He was quite a bit heavier than me. I weighed 17 stone 10 and he made me look small.

“He had a record of 21-9 in Thai fighting, and I was delighted with the first round stoppage.”Thompson is awaiting surgery on three bulging discs in his back but after recuperating is eyeing a tilt at the world’s biggest promotion.“I should be getting an operation within two to three months,” added the 27-year-old. “I can get back to normal, to a degree, after the operation, and I will be happy. I can get back up to No 1 and try to get a shot at the UFC.”Four years ago, Thompson was rated among the top three heavyweights in Europe, after first round wins over Cage Rage champion Tengiz Tedoradze, for the Ultimate Force title, in Doncaster, and ex-UFC fighter Colin Robinson, to claim the Strike and Submit belt in Newcastle.But his hopes of moving on to the world stage were hit when he suffered a serious back injury playing rugby league, forcing him to take a break from the cage.The brothers thanked sponsors Ian Chambers, of Powerhouse Gym, in Whitehaven, and Key 2 Sports Nutrition.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk