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| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|12|21}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|12|21}}
| birth_place = [[England]]
| birth_place = [[Reading]], [[England]]
| death_date =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|12|31|1972|12|21}}
| death_place = [[Reading]], [[England]]
| death_cause =
| residence =
| residence =
| nationality = [[English people|English]]
| nationality = [[English people|English]]

Revision as of 18:13, 9 November 2024

Chris Ballard
Born (1972-12-21) December 21, 1972 (age 51)
Reading, England
DiedDecember 31, 2003(2003-12-31) (aged 31)
Reading, England
Other namesSledgehammer
NationalityEnglish
Height6 ft 3 (1.90 m)
Weight97 kg (214 lb; 15.3 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Fighting out ofBracknell, England
Years activex–2003

Chris Ballard was an English kickboxer and mixed martial artist, fighting in the welterweight division. He was predominantly a kickboxer, winning British and intercontinental titles, and went on to become a World kickboxing champion under the World Mixed Martial Arts Council in 2003.[1]

Early life

Christopher Paul Ballard was born on 21 December 1971[2] in Reading, Berkshire, UK to Paul and Elaine Ballard (nee Edwards)[3] soon after their marriage.[4] His parents later divorced, and both remarried (his father to Karen Wilson in 1985[5] and his mother in 1988 to John Fisher.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

And now the new" WKN Super-Heavyweight sensation Chris "The Sledgehammer" Ballard scored his 27th knockout in under 30 seconds of the first round, opponent Roger Toone the hapless victim. A real crowd puller, Ballard is rapidly earning the tag "The White Tyson."[7]

At Extreme Brawl 1 Ballard faced Craig Amer in the +96.6kg Super Heavy Kickboxing. Ballard was notably bigger and heavier than Amer and was also noted for his quickness and agility for such a big man. In this fight he demonstrated jumping spinning kicks and was too powerful for Amer who was floored on a number of occasions. In UK MMA events a TKO is awarded if there are three knockdowns of a fighter and Ballard won this encounter.[8]

IKF Pro Full Contact Rules England Heavyweight Champion. Ballard won his title on November 18th, 2001, North Hampton England when he defeated Dave Sharp of England by unanimous decision, 47-41, 46-43 and 47-41. Ballard's title was retired when the IKF was informed he was too heavy to defend it on September 21st, 2003.[9]

In Extreme Brawl 3, Ballard was in a cage kickboxing match with Simon Dore which was remembered for Ballard's continued attacking of his opponent after he had fallen to the ground. A savage beating that lasted only thirty seconds put Dore on his back, but a few kicks to the downed opponent saw Ballard DQ'd.[10]


Ballard knocked out Dover's Craig Amer in the very first minute of the fight, which was staged in an octagon cage at Bracknell Sports Centre. Ballard usually competes in the super heavyweight division and, while it has been difficult to bring his weight down, he feels the added speed has helped him to hit even harder - hence his nickname.

Ballard trains at the Shaolin Tigers gym, which has produced a string of world champions under the guidance of Frank Bowen.

Otide of martial arts

Mr Ballard worked as a bouncer and was praised for saving lives during violence at The Matrix nightclub in London Street in April 2002 when two people were shot.

Mr Ballard's long-time friend and fellow bouncer Ray Snart killed himself in Basingstoke last August. He had been working with Mr Ballard at the London Street club on the fateful night when two people were shot in March 2002.

The Heartless Crew garage music act were playing a gig at the time. Rob Clark, head of Phoenix Security, which no longer provides doorstaff for The Matrix, said: "The two had been lifelong friends and had similar upbringings.

"They both worked nightclubs and had been in security for many years and they both had to deal with many things. They had been through tough times.

"This could be coincidence. The night at The Matrix may have played a small part or a big part. Both Ray and Chris saved many people's lives on the night of that horrific incident and afterwards we offered counselling to all our staff. [11]



KICKBOXING champion Chris Ballard's gentleness and bravery were remembered by hundreds of mourners at his funeral yesterday.

Around 1,000 people poured into Christ Church in Christchurch Road to honour the doorman and sportsman who risked his life to save others on a night of shooting at The Matrix nightclub in Reading in 2002.

before his death which was read out by the Reverend Michael Crowther Green.

The 32-year-old's message read: "This is no-one's fault. I have fought for things all my life and sometimes there is no fight left.


He went on to detail Mr Ballard's actions on the night of The Matrix shootings, when he was working as a doorman.

He told the congregation how Mr Ballard had saved the life of a policeman who had been separated from his colleagues. He said: "He was fearless, he saved lives.

"There was a girl who was very badly injured and he charged through and put her over his

shoulder and ran through the crowds to paramedics to help her.

"He heard a gun and without body armour he headed straight for that sound.

[12]

Personal life and death

On January 4th, 2004, Ballard was found with a gunshot wound to his head in his home in Maiden Court Lane, Lower Earley. Coroner Peter Bedford, who recorded a verdict of suicide, said Mr Ballard had taken his won life while suffering from depression. The inquest at Windsor Guildhall heard that Ballard had been buying Roaccutane over the internet to keep his skin in good condition and that the drug was so toxic that it could not be prescribed by a GP in the United Kingdom, with its known side effects including severe depression. The coroner said: "I cannot say Roaccutane played a part but I cannot rule it our either." Thecourt was told that other circumstances could also have contributed to his depression including the death of a friend and the break-up of a relationship. The coroner went on to say: "I cannot say he was taking steroids but it is possible. I cannot say for sure he was taking Roaccutane but there is a suggestion that he was. Given the upset he had suffered it seems to me they are part and parcel of developing a depressive illness."[13]


World KickBoxing Association president Paul Ingram described Mr Ballard as "a gentle giant and colourful character" who was known internationally. "He was a very likeable, respectful guy," he said. "He of course had all the ring showmanship which went with fighters but he was a really nice chap.[14]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
20 matches 11 wins 8 losses
By knockout 7 3
By submission 3 5
By decision 1 0
Draws 0
No contests 1



Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss Daniel Waciakowski TKO Extreme Brawl 4 September 28, 2003 3 Bracknell Leisure Centre Cage fight
Loss --- Simon Dore Disqualified Extreme Brawl June 29, 2003 3 Bracknell, England +96.6kg Super Heavy Kickboxing
Win --- Craig Amer KO Extreme Brawl December 15, 2002 1 <1m Bracknell, England +96.6kg Super Heavy Kickboxing - World MMA title
Win --- Dave Sharp Unanimous decision November 18, 2001 3 Northampton, England IKF Pro Full Contact Rules England Heavyweight Champion.
Loss 27- Mark Geener TKO WKN British Super heavyweight title fight July 1, 2000 6 York Hall, Bethnal Green [15]
Win 27- Roger Toone TKO The Battle of Bayswater! "Best Of The Best II" February 27, 2000 1 0:30 Bayswater, London 27th Knockout
Loss -- Hiromi Amada TKO King Of The Ring July 10, 1999 1
Win TKO WKA International title fight May 1998 The Dome, Birmingham
Loss Jan Michelle (Netherlands) Unanimous decision Super heavyweight competition March 1998 3 Bastille, France
Win Jez Landau (France) KO Super heavyweight competition March 1998 1 Bastille, France
Win Cart-Wisze (Germany) KO Super heavyweight competition March 1998 2 Bastille, France
Win -- Grant Barker tbc WKA Commonwealth title fight February 25, 1997 Sydney Full contact with leg-kick
Win 17-2 Nigel Parsons KO WKA British heavyweight title fight December 17, 1996 1 Thai Rules
Loss 16-2 Muzarie Mumitsu December 10, 1995 Tokyo
Win 16-1 Gordon Minus TKO WKA British title fight September 2, 1995
Win 15-1 Barrie Backon TKO WKA International title fight June 28, 1995 5 Worcester
Win 14-1 WKA British title fight 1995
Win 13-1 WKA Midlands area title fight 1995
Win 12-1 WKA Southern area title fight 1995
Loss 11-1 Stuart Green 1994

References

  1. ^ [Ballard's a world beater https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/other-sport/ballards-a-world-beater-4272266]
  2. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2007,
  3. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. ^ WKN
  8. ^ sfuk Extreme Brawl 1 report
  9. ^ www.ikfkickboxing.com PAST IKF PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONS
  10. ^ sfuk Extreme Brawl 3 report
  11. ^ [SECOND BOUNCER AT MATRIX DIES - TRAGEDY: kick-boxer's friend killed himself last year after both were heroes https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/second-bouncer-at-matrix-dies-4268844]
  12. ^ [Farewell to a champion, Thousand at funeral of kickboxer https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/farewell-to-a-champion-4268967]
  13. ^ Get Reading, World champ Chris took his own life , March 19, 2004
  14. ^ [KICK BOXER FOUND DEAD NEXT TO GUN, January 2004 https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/kick-boxer-found-dead-next-4268839]
  15. ^ Steve Bunce, New Fight Crowd Gets Its Kicks, The Observer, London, England, July 2, 2000


Category:English mixed martial artists Category:Heavyweight mixed martial artists Category:1972 births Category:2003 deaths

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