Bradford wrestling coach has sons win world titles in Bolton

Brett Hawthorn has been joined as a Snake Pit Catch Wrestling World Championships winner by his brother Tommy, with both winning their titles at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Jimmy said: “Brett defended his title at 68kg (lightweight) and didn’t have much of a problem defeating Mark Gnada or Wei Tran after getting straight into the semi-finals.

“Both bouts were comfortable and he pinned them both rather quickly in front of a full house.”

Jimmy added: “Tommy was at welterweight and had some hard matches in his three bouts, facing a former California State Greco-Roman wrestling champion in Matthew Chambers, an experienced wrestler with dual nationality.

“It was a tough fight and Matthew lasted almost all of the straight 10 minutes, which is very physically demanding.

“Tommy tried everything to make him submit - he was a tough opponent - and 30 seconds from the end he pinned him.

“And then fought one of Brett’s old team-mates from Campbellsville, Kentucky in Mike Clark, who was a collegiate wrestler with 15 years’ experience, an NCAA All American, and Tommy took him down with a face-bar submission.

“Then finally he got the world runner-up last time out in John Byrne, who has plenty of experience, and Tommy pinned him inside five minutes.”

Tommy Hawthorn takes down one of his opponents. Picture: Will Fisher.

Brett, a sports science student at Leeds Trinity University, will be representing Great Britain in a Sambo World Cup event in Morocco in September.

Tommy, meanwhile, is preparing for his second MMA pro fight on July 16 in Barnsley.

Jimmy explained: “His second fight was going to be on June 25 at Doncaster Dome against a Romanian lad, but he is a scaffolder and a scaffolding pole hit him on the head, so he couldn’t fight.

“But we can’t rush Tommy into facing a top opponent yet so we have to be careful with him.”

Tommy Hawthorn looking set to land his opponent in a world of pain. Picture: Anthony Harrison.

The Hawthorns weren’t Bradford’s only successes at Bolton, however, as they won five medals in all, doubtless helped by the Under Hooks gym on Leeds Road, BD3, where they train.

Clark was also representing Bradford Wrestling Academy, and won that bronze, while Joe Emery (at 74kg, welterweight) and Sol Simons (82kg, middleweight) also came third.

Jimmy said: “Joe got jumped on when he was 14 at Bradford Interchange and was beaten up, but found out about Brett and the gym and asked if I could train him to improve his self defence.

“His medal is a reward for perseverance.

“I have been training Sol since he was a young kid and he is now 22 and got a bronze at 82kg, losing to John Hathaway, a ranked UFC fighter.

“Sol really pushed him all the way but got overpowered in the end.”