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MMA GYM DENIES BOSTON BOMBER WAS A MEMBER

By Martial News Reporter

A MARTIAL arts gym has denied that one of the Boston bombers was a member of its facilities.

Wai Kru MMA gym, Allston, Massachusetts, United States, is the hom gym of former UFC fighters John Howard and Sean Gannon.

It had been earlier reported that Tamerlan Tsarnaev - one of two brothers said to have committed the bomb atrocity at the Boston Marathon - was a member of the gym.

Three people died, including an eight-year-old boy, in the attack which saw two bombs go off at the finish line. Dozens of others were injured, some with horrific injuries.

Head coach at the gym Kru John Allan release a statement saying that Tsarnaev was never a members of the gym but had trained there on occasion.

The statement said: "Wai Kru MMA would like to first take the time to say our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this horrible tragedy.

"Tamerlan Tsarnaev was not now, or ever a member of the Wai Kru MMA facilities.

"He was a local golden gloves boxer who came into the gym to spar from time to time.

"Wai Kru has been working closely with the FBI and Homeland Joint Task Force all morning to provide them with any materials that might be useful to bring these people to justice for their heinous crimes.

It was later confirmed by Julie Goldsticker, head of PR for United States Boxing, that Sarnayev had been registered as an amateur boxer up to 2010.

He was shot and killed by law enforcement officers while his brother Dzhokhar was later found hiding in a tarpaulin covered boat in the backyard of a house on Boston. He had been shot and is now in hospital recovering.

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MUAY THAI CHAMP DIES OF HEART ATTACK

By Luke Robbins

A MUAY Thai and kickboxing legend has died of a heart attack while riding a push bike.

Ramon Dekkers, 43, died while riding a bike in his home town of Brada, Holland.

He was a legend in the Muay Thai and Kickboxing world as he was one of the most successful fighters in the sports.

He was named fighter of the year in 1993 in Thailand in recognition for his defeat of some of the best fighters from the country.

He took on May Thai legends such as Sakmongkol Sithchuchok, Jomhod Kiatadisak and Saengtiennoi Sor amongst many others.

Dekkers started his martial arts odyssey as a child aged 12-years-old. By the time he was 18-years-old he had captured his first belt, the MTBN Dutch Championship on 15 November 1987.

When he retired he was eight times World Champion and had fought more than 220 times, losing only 33 times with two draws.

According to reports he was riding through a road tunnel on his bike when he felt lightheaded then collapsed.

Bystanders attempted to revive him before the emergency services but it was too late to bring him back.

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+++FEBRUARY EDITION+++

MARTIAL ARTIST AWARDED TOP HONOUR BY CANADA

By Martial News Reporter, pic by the Club de Shidokan

A TOP martial artists has been awarded a country's highest civic honour.

Hiroshi Nakamura was presented with the Order of Canada by the Governor General's office for his work in promoting Judo in the country.

Nakamura, 70, has dedicated his life to the Japanese art in Canada coaching five of the nation's Judo Olympic teams.

He told Canadian media: "It's a great honour, but also I think...me? You know?

"Maybe I’ll put it in a bank, in a safety deposit box," he answered with a laugh when asked what he'd do with the honour.

"I'm 70, it’s maybe a bit too early to receive this and I don't know what next step I will make."

Joining Nakamura were 90 other recipiants including the Women's Ice Hockey coach who lead the Winter Olympic team to gold in 2002.

They will all receive their medals at a ceremony being held in Rideau, Quebec.