Vaidus eyes Irish title

Buncrana based kickboxer Vaidus Natkus is in action at the World Championship Kickboxing show in Letterkenny this Saturday with an Irish title in his sights. The 24 year old Light-Middleweight has been training intensively for his bout with Billy Kelly of West Meath Boxing Club which is on the undercard of Letterkenny man Tommy McCafferty’s bid to claim a second world title at the Clanree Hotel. Orginally from Lithuania, Viadus moved to Inishowen with his family four years ago and joined Paddy Toland’s renound kickboxing gym to learn the discipline from scratch, having previously competed at a high level in Karate in his homeland. “When we first moved here I was keen to keep up my training and the people I spoke to all recommended PT’s gym.” He explained. “It took me a while to get used to it as head blows are allowed whereas they aren’t in kickboxing. Paddy provides top class of coaching, he is a three times world champion and has a wealth of experience in the sport.” Looking ahead to Saturday’s bout, Vaidus is looking forward to fighting in front of the passionate Letterkenny crowd andsays he is happy with his preparations for the bout. “The Clanree Hotel is a great venue to fight in and the atmosphere is amazing. The crowd get behind you because you are from PT’s gym and that helps me raise my performance. My parents, my sister and some of my friends will be there also so hopefully I can give them something to cheer an register another win.” He said. “I have been training six nights a week in preparation for this fight, three nights of which have been sparring and three conditioning. The training has gone very well and the standard of sparring available in the gym is of the highest quality as I have two World Champions and a European Champion to get in the ring with. “I have won four and lost one of my fights to date but I’m hopeful if I can register another few wins that I will get a shot at the Irish title which is my aim.” He concluded Tickets for the event are available at the Clanree Hotel and are priced at €20 for outer ring tickets and €30 for ringside. Anyone seeking further information can log on to www.ifka.co.uk