Lindsay misses out on elusive Night of Victory title

POLAND’S EUROPEAN champion, Filippos Filippidis, on Friday defeated Jamaica’s Akino Lindsay in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) bout at the 2025 International Sports Karate Association’s United States Open’s Night of Victory at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Lindsay went down in a close fight in which two corner judges ruled in favour of Filippidis, one for the Jamaican and a draw.

Jason McKay, who helped to coach Lindsay in his world-record run of 10 individual gold medals in tatami (mat fighting) at Europe’s International Sport Kick Boxing Association (ISKA) Amateur Members Association World Championships, said the 30-year-old appeared to have been caught between two styles of fighting.

“I thought it was a great match, very exciting for a live-stream event. It will certainly make for good TV,” said McKay.

“Lindsay shouldn’t be too worried about losing. What I saw happening was that he was in the ISKA mode of fighting in a points-based ITF competition. He was allowing his opponent to start first, too often, in the bout,” McKay pointed out, adding that were it an ISKA fight, Lindsay would have easily won.

Meanwhile, Filippidis, who was crowned European Champion at April’s ITF Championships in Sarajevo, believes he has a good chance at the October 7-11 World Championships in Porec, Croatia, pointing to two opponents, a European and South American as his main rivals.

Describing Lindsay as “tough and strong with his hands”, as well as having “very good timing against turning kicks”, Filippidis credited his win to “a lot of preparation with my front leg”, which he used to fend off the Jamaican.

Enamoured by the atmosphere of the US Open, Filippidis described the world’s biggest martial arts open as “a unique experience”.

“It’s very nice. The crowd was really into it. It looks really organised, especially with a lot of families cheering on the fighters. It is very different here,” he said.