Southend Combat Academy showcases talent at World Championships

Southend Combat Academy, based in Grainger Road, has enjoyed amateur and professional triumphs in recent weeks.

Kesia Dempsey, 14, represented Great Britain in the ISKA World Championships in Greece.

Kesia won three medals while Yves Brusnello, 16, also won a silver medal.

And the club will also be showcase its talent on the big stage after professional Romanian Adrian Maxim, 26, was offered a contract to fight on the world famous Glory Kickboxing show.

The organisation is the most renowned in the kickboxing world and the Southend-based fighter could now be fighting against some of the very best in the business, beginning in Chicago later this year.

And Simon Dempsey, who runs the academy along with business parter Horia Radulescu, said both were exceptional achievements.

“For Kesia and Yves to be chosen to represent their country at the highest amateur level is a massive achievement in itself,” he said.

“But to come home with three silvers and a bronze is amazing.

“And it is also great news for Adrian,” he added.

“Glory Kickboxing is the biggest and most prestigious kickboxing organisation in the world.

“If he does well, it could lead to a very lucrative career in the sport.”

Kesia represented her country in the art forms of Muay Thai boxing, K1 kickboxing and full-contact kickboxing.

And, after coming through some tough fights, she came home with a bronze medal for Muay Thai, losing to a Cypriot girl in the semi final.

This was as well as a silver medal for K1 and a silver for full-contact kickboxing against Polish and Irish competition, missing out on gold medals on split decisions.

Yves was also agonisingly close to winning gold, in the under 70kg K1 finals.

He lost on a split decision in the final against a competitor from Greece.

Maxim’s professional contract comes off the back of a recent run of devastating performances, including winning the WLF world title in China.

For more information on the club visit scmma.co.uk.