At the North Down Sports Awards which took place in the Marine Court Hotel on 21 June two of Northern Ireland’s top karate stars Glen and Neil Bailie met former European Super Middle Weight boxing Champion Ray Close.

Ray can be remembered as the boxer from Ulster who so nearly took the World title from Chris Eubank, after his epic twelve round battle with him in May 1994. Unfortunately for Ray, that night the judges opted for the showman as opposed to Ray, who many agreed was the better boxer on the night.

Ray congratulated Glen on his world silver medal, which he won last October and explained that his own daughter Sarah is now the boxing star of the Close family, competing at international level through the Abbey Boxing Club.