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July 9, 2014
Star Sport



 

Jamaican fighter to feature on ESPN
Ainsley Walters, STAR Writer


Adrian Moore - Contributed

JAMAICA's martial arts prowess will be broadcast worldwide this Saturday, on ESPN2, when Adrian Moore takes on Malaysia-born Hong Looi, who fights out of Ireland, during the International Sports Karate Association's US Open Night of Champions in Orlando, Florida.

Jamaicans will get the chance to cheer on Moore, a 23-year-old Taekwondo fighter, during ESPN2's live broadcast from the Coronado Resort, 7-8 p.m. Eastern Time (6-7 p.m. Jamaica time).

Moore's opponent, Hong Looi, is a decorated black belt with World and European titles to his credit. He is a three-time Open Dutch sparring champion (2012-2014), 2014 European Vice Team Sparring Champion; 2013 World Team Sparring Champion; 2012 European Sparring Champion and 2011 World Vice Sparring Champion.

Moore won a bronze medal at the Quebec 2012 International Taekwondo Federation Pan Am Championship in middleweight sparring. He has seen three of his compatriots fight on the Night of Champions stage.

Olympian Kenneth Edwards, Nicholas Dusard (twice) and Sheckema Cunningham are Jamaicans who have featured on the annual US Open's Night of Champions since 2010.

"For martial arts, it's the biggest crowd I have ever seen. The lights and everything, all concentration is on one stage. It's a lot of pressure but I am being calm about it, keeping my game plan together," Moore said yesterday.

Jamaica have had three Night of Champion victories . Dusard, however, narrowly lost in overtime on his second appearance, last year, after being ushered in as a late replacement for the injured Oshane Murray.

Night of Champions is the ultimate attraction of the US Open, featuring the best in all disciplines.

Moore has studied Hong Looi's fights and plans to counter anything he comes with.

"I know his best technique is punching but that's my strong point as well," he said.

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