Burnley rookie Alexis is a fighting machine (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley rookie Alexis is a fighting machine

9:45am Wednesday 15th August 2012 in Grass Roots news

ROOKIE fighter Alexis Walker had a real Thai high when she won her first tournament – even though she admitted she could have done much better.

The 24-year-old, who fights out of Burnley’s Hakuda gym, competed on Lean and Green’s Fighting Machines Show, in a 50kg Ladies B class tournament.

Walker had previously only had two C-class fights and less than two years training experience.

But she stepped up to the B-class level, fighting girls who had been training for more than seven years and made light of her lack of experience.

She won her first fight confidently and then went on to fight later in the evening in the tournament final against the English title holder, where she again came out victorious.

Walker said: “I felt extremely honoured to even be considered for the tournament.

“It was a massive confidence boost that the promoters had faith in my ability to step up to the challenge and compete with girls with way more experience.

“I was deemed as the wild card and it was a very demanding and a long day and although I was not happy with my performance in the final, I beat the English title holder after having only two previous fights and was crowned the First Fighting machines tournament champion, so I guess I can’t complain too much.”

Hakuda gym has had fighters competing on numerous shows and 28-year-old Duncan Stewart from Burnley represented the gym and fought on the “Main Event” one of the biggest Thai boxing shows in the country, while Ben Moore, 17, from Accrington was a winner at 59Kg at the Hilton Hotel in Leeds.

Colne’s Mickey Feeney has also been a recent winner at 72kg, while Burnley 19-year-old Elliott Maxwell won plaudits in defeat.

Fighters from the Sandygate gym continue to be given opportunities to fight on some of the most popular shows in the North and owner and trainer at the gym, Dave Burley, is extremely happy with the fighters progression and can’t stress his enthusiasm for the increased popularity of his small gym and said: “This small gym is making a big name, producing some talented fighters.”

Burley is also looking for any local business who would like to sponsor the gym or one of its fighters.

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