Sam Portelli from Nadur has been invited to represent Malta at the World Championships 2024 in Vienna, Austria ,as part of Malta’s national kick-boxing team.

17-year old Sam beat opponent Amy Vella of Team Noel in three rounds at the ISKA (International Sport Kickboxing Association) National Championships at the Montekristo Estate, Siggiewi, last week, winning on points to take the belt.

This win earned her a place in next month’s World Championships (23-27 October) where she will compete in the Girls (16 and 17 yrs old) category (129 lbs and under).

“I was thrilled to win the match at Montekristo and becoming part of the national team is absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to get to Vienna, and I’d like to thank Fight Science Gozo and all the people in Nadur and Gozo who have been – and continue to be – so incredibly supportive. It’s great to know I have the whole island behind me.” said Sam.

It’s the first time a Gozitan club has entered any fighters into the National Championships, it was an awesome win and it’s a first for Gozo to have a Gozo representative on the national team,” said Matt Goldham, Sam’s coach and Founder of Fight Science Gozo where Sam, who was previously a competitive swimmer, started kick-boxing in 2023. “I couldn’t be more proud of her. She has a natural talent and is really putting the work in to get ready for the Worlds.”

Sam is currently enjoying sponsorship from Kinetika Gozo which has offered her a complementary gym pass for her cardio and strength training, and Ritual Dive in Xlendi who are providing some support for Sam’s equipment and transport costs to and from Sliema’s Fight Co. premises for additional training.

However Sam is going to need competition standard equipment as she prepares for next month’s World Championships. “If any person or organisation would like to help with a financial contribution, however small, please contact Fight Science Gozo. Sam would very much appreciate your help,” the club said.

Fight Science Gozo opened in a 50 m2 space in Victoria less than two years ago, converting a former garage into a gym dedicated to kick-boxing. The club has gone from strength to strength: founder Matt Goldham and coach Chris Kovacs now run 11 group classes a week for all ages (from age 4 to adults) in addition to private sessions.

“We have expanded the coaching team recently to welcome a female trainer, Sarah Vella, who has trained at a high level in the US and Thailand. We are also happy to have introduced a dedicated women-only class for those who prefer it.”

“We’re bursting at the seams now,” said Matt, “and still only have access to a makeshift boxing ring in a local farmer’s field which we use in the heat, the wind and the rain. I have been determined to change this. We are in the process of getting new premises which I hope will be up and running by the end of the year. They will be much bigger and excitingly, the new gym will have a 18-foot competition ring. There are several in Malta but it will be brilliant for Gozo to have its own.”

He explained that the 18-foot competition ring will comply with international standards and would be able to host national and international events.

Matt went on to say that “the fight promoters, top fighters and clubs in Malta have been very welcoming and helpful, and Fight Science Gozo is keen to give something back. We have therefore organised an event with one of the world’s top kick-boxers internationally, John ‘The General’ Haggerty who is the reigning ONE kick boxing world champion at Bantamweight, a former ONE Flyweight & Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.”

[ONE is the world’s largest martial arts organisation and one of the world’s biggest sport promoters globally]

“Haggerty’s coming to Gozo on Tuesday 7th January to give a seminar masterclass, before he heads over to Australia for a tour there. It’s a real coup that he’s coming here at all, and we’re very much hoping to be able to host him in Gozo’s new Sports Centre.”

“Haggerty’s such an inspirational fighter, the ‘David Beckham of the kick-boxing world,” said Matt, “and people are planning trips across from Italy especially to hear him speak. He also has over 650k followers on Instagram so he’ll really be able to spread the world about Gozo and the great facilities we’re getting here.”

For more information, contact Matt Goldham of Fight Science Gozo on 7711 0018

Photo: Fight Science Gozo

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