Thaifight second round

The 25th of october saw the second stage of the Thaifight tournament at the Indoor stadium Huamark

With 8 fighters doing battle to see who would go through to the finals in December.

Youseff Boughanamen (white) vs Anthony Kane (black)

Straight away the fight turns into a battle of Anthony’s solid punching and the strong clinch and knee game of Youssef. Both fighters waste no time in opening up with big shots, Anthony fires in some dangerous looking punches, but Youssef looks on top of the fight with some hard knees, that Anthony struggles to stop. Youssef slows up his attacks a little in round 2. Anthony comes forward looking for more hard punches and some strong lowkicks, but Youssef avoids any real danger and starts to push forward landing with hard long knees, but always looks aware of Anthony’s punching power. Anthony fights with a more western style, up on his toes and bouncing in and out, looking for some hard punches and elbows again, but Youssef doesn’t look troubled. Youssef looks in control in the 3rd and final round, landing with more hard long knees and kicks. Anthony comes out with a few wild swings, but again doesn’t trouble Youssef. Near the end of the round Youssef gets careless and drops his hands as he cones in with a knee, Anthony connects with a heavy overhand punch, that sends Youssef down to the canvas for an 8 count. Youssef beats the count and soaks up Anthony’s attacks to the bell. The judges score the fight a draw and an extra round is called for. In the extra round Youssef comes out with a high guard and immediately opens up with a big barrage of hard knees. Anthony opens up with some heavy punches again, but Youssef soaks up the attacks o his gloves and comes back with more strength sapping knees. Anthony fades out of the fight now and Youssef takes the decision at the end.
Fabio Pinca (white) vs Rafi Zouheir (black)

Rafi fights on the back foot throughout the opening round, moving off of Fabio’s attacks and looking to open up with a few flashy looking back kicks. Fabio is aggressive, but not wild and blocks the kicks as they come in and looks to push forward and try and corner Rafi and opens up with some solid punches and lowkicks. Fabio stalks forward again relentlessly in the 2nd round, while Rafi continues to fight on the retreat. Rafi fires off a few long knees as he moves back, but Fabio again opens up with solid punches and lowkicks and throws Rafi down to the canvas from the clinch. Rafi smiles as Fabio comes in, but doesn’t look like he is really enjoying the pressure. Rafi moves forward finally at the start of the final round, as Fabio eases of his attacks and looks to just control the ring. Rafi opens up with several tunring back kicks and a few punches, but Fabio fires in a succession of solid kicks and controls the ring and takes the decision.
Liam Harrison (white) vs Soishiro Miyakoshi (black)

Liam starts the opening round well, moving off of Soishiro’s attacks well and firing in some fast kicks. Soishiro looks to fire in some strong punches, but a hard left hook from Liam wobbles his legs and slows him up. Near the end of the round Soishiro sinks in a hard bodyshot and follow up punch, but Liam just smiles at him and calls him in. Liam moves around the ring well in round 2, picking off Soishiro with fast bodykicks and punishing his leg with some solid lowkicks. Soishiro comes in looking for the big punch again, but doesn’t land with anything special. Soishiro gets through with a punch near the end of the round, that causes Liam to lose balance, but Liam just shakes his said to show he wasn’t hurt. Liam carries on where he left off in the final round, moving around the ring well and picking off Soishiro with sharp counters. Soishiro is aggressive, but again fails to land with anything significant. Near the end of the round Soishiro walks onto a solid left elbow from Liam and drops to the canvas where he is counted out.
Vitaly Hurkov (white) vs Petmankong Petfergus (black)

Vitaly starts aggressively, coming straight at Petmankong and taking the fight into the clinch, where he unloads with knees and elbows. Petmankong lands with a hard body kick and spins Vitaly around with a solid straight punch. Petmankong looks content to pick off Vitaly with solid kicks and tie him up in the clinch. Vitaly, looks wild again in the 2nd round and rushes forward into the clinch. Petmankong controls the positioning in the clinch well though and lands with the more effective looking knees. Petmankong lands with some solid punches and kicks on the outside to take a clear lead into the final round. In the last round Vitaly gets more success as Petmankong eases off and just looks to control the ring. Vitaly gets off with a few strong knees now, but Petmankong moves well and fires in some fast bodykicks and pushkicks to retain his lead and take the decision at the end.

After the final fight of the night it was time for the draw for the next round. Due to being sick and unable to make the required weight, Liam Harrison lost his place in the finals to his opponent.

The draw for the finals in Khorat on the 6th of December sees Fabio Pinca face Petmankong and Youssef face Soishiro