No-hold-barred extravaganza

It has got to take a lot of bottle to climb between the ropes to take on some of these muscle-bound bruisers.

And at 6ft 4ins and 12st, Hull wrestler Nathan Irwin is, by grapple standards, far from being one of the biggest beasts in the rumble jungle.

When the 18-year-old makes his hometown wrestling debut this Sunday at the Ultimate Wrestling Showdown at the Gemtec Arena, he will be pitting his fledgling skills against some of the best wrestling talent in Britain – and beyond.

On the bill for the high-octane event is US queen of the ring, The Awesome Kong, as well as the cream of the British wrestling scene, including Doug Williams, Johnny Moss, The Zebra Kid, Stixx and Andy "Boy" Simmonz.

Nathan will be making his professional debut against the triple- crown Scottish champion, Lionheart, and taking part in a no-holds barred four-man tag-team free-for-all.

"It is a bit intimidating getting into the ring with some of these guys, because some of them are huge." says the Bilton Grange teenager, who wrestles under the name of Nathan Cruz.

"I know a lot of people have a go at wrestling saying it's all fake – but I can promise you put yourself in real danger every time you enter that ring. It definitely hurts when they get hold of you.

"Hopefully, I'm going to be able to use my size to my advantage. They're big guys, but I'm going to be faster than they are."

Nathan, who started training at the age of 15 after becoming intrigued by the razzmatazz of American wrestling on TV, began training at the New Generation Wrestling gym in Longhill, but has now decided to take it one step further and make a career in the ring.

"It's what I've always wanted to do," he says. "You get such an adrenaline rush from being in the ring in front of an audience, pitting your skills against an opponent. It's going to be great being at the Gemtec in front of a hometown audience, with some of the biggest stars in British wrestling. Even to be on the same bill as these people is a dream come true for me.

"It will also be nice to prove some of those people wrong who said I'd never have what it takes to be a professional wrestler. I'll be doing it for real."

Among the highlights of the spectacular event will be four-man tag team event, a European title bout, a regional title fight, a bruising encounter between top women wrestlers The Awesome Kong and British ladies champion Sweet Saraya, and, topping the bill, a hectic four-way "ladder fight", where the prize belt will be suspended 25ft above the ring. The first competitor to scale to the top to claim it will be declared the winner.

Before the main evening show, there will also be a matinee exhibition starting at 2pm, featuring some of the competitors from the main event, for which tickets can be bought separately.

"It's going to be spectacular," says promoter Steve Cartwright. "This is without doubt the biggest wrestling event ever in Hull. We will have light shows, pyrotechnics, special effects and an amazing line-up of talent."

The Ultimate Wrestling Showdown will be at the Gemtec Arena, Walton Street, Hull, on Sunday, July 5. Doors open at 5.30pm, showtime is 6.30pm.Tickets cost from £10 to £40. To book call (01482) 304800.

The afternoon matinee showcase starts at 2pm.