Thaifight

The 29th of August saw the opening fights of an ambitious new project, a Muaythai tournament featuring fighters from 16 different countries

 

from around the world. The tournament was held at Hua Mark indoor stadium and broadcast live on T.V channel 3

 

The show was opened by former Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop and after his opening speech and some stunning musical and visual entertainments it was time to get on with the action

Jason Lea (white) Australia vs Youssef Boughanamen (black) Belgium

Both fighters take a little while to get going in round 1, testing each other’s defenses with some probing shots. Jason starts to open up a little with solid punches, but midway through the round Youssef opens up with a solid barrage of knees, elbows and punches and Jason drops down to the canvas, where he’s given an 8 count. Jason gets up and weathers the storm as Youssef opens up with some more solid knees and elbows and the bell rings to save Jason. Youssef pushes forward again in round 2, but his attacks have slowed down now and Jason catches him with a few solid punches. Youssef takes the fight into the clinch again and opens up with some hard knees, but both fighters almost go over the ropes and out the ring at one point. Youssef looks to defend his ead and cruise through the final round, but Jason grits his teeth at first and unloads some solid punches. Youssef opens up with a barrage of bodykicks and Jason finally slows up. Both fighters go through the motions to the bell, where Youssef takes the decision and moves into the next round.

Sharos Huyer (white) Italy vs Fabio Pinca (black) France

Fabio starts the fight firing in hard punches and lowkicks. Sharos looks up for the battle at first and comes back with some solid bodykicks. A short way into the round Fabio catches a pushkick from Sharos with his right hand and fires in a fast, hard left hook that drops Sharos for an 8 count. Fabio comes straight in for the kill and opens up with hard punches and elbows as Sharos’s game falls apart. The referee steps in to give another 8 count as Sharos is not defending himself and taking shot after shot on the ropes. Fabio comes straight in again and lands a succession of hard elbows and a final body punch that sends Sharos crashing out of the fight

Bartosz Koscielniak (white) Germany vs Rafi Zouheir (black) Spain

Rafi starts the fight determined to put on a show and fires in a flashy jumping, spinning roundkick, followed by a jumping elbow. Bartosz is unfazed though and fires back with some hard punches that look like they stun Rafi a little. Rafi fights a little more defensively now and looks to use his height to pick off the on rushing Bartosz with some hard long knees and sharp punches. Bartosz pushes forward, looking to land with some crunching overhand punches. Bartosz, pushes forward again at the start of round 2, but Rafi connects with a fast spinning elbow that cuts Bartosz on the back of his head. Bartosz still looks to connect with more bombs, but has lost a little of his earlier pace and Rafi starts to showboat a little again, landing with some jumping knees and firing in another jumping, spinning roundkick. Bartosz keeps o with the same tactics in the final round, trying to catch Rafi with a knockout punch. Bartosz has slowed down considerably though and Rafi controls the ring with a sharp jab and pushick and lands with some long knees and takes the decision at the end.

Zhou Hongzhang (white) China vs Petmankong Petfergus (black) Thailand

It was a tough challenge from the off for the young Chinese fighter, facing the last Isuzu tournament champion Petmankong, who came into the fight on the back of a win against Saenchai Sor Saenchai, widely regarded as the sports pound for pound best fighter. Both start slowly at first, just feeling out each others defences. A short way into the opening round Petmankong starts to open up with some solid bodykicks. Zhou looks to fire back at first, but Petmankong lands with a hard hook to the body, that takes the fight and the wind right out of Zhou and he drops to the canvas where he is counted out.

Jong Hyun Ko (white) Korea Vs Vitaly Hurkov (black) Russia

Vitaly looks to use his vastly superior height right from the off and land with some big long knees. Jong looks a little out of his depth, but gamely fires back with some solid punches. Vitaly comes out with more big knees in round 2. Jong again shows a big heart attacking Vitaly with some hard punches, but soon starts to look very tired. Jong shakes up Vitaly with some hard shots, but losses out in the clinch and by the end of the round looks exhausted. In the final round Vitaly opens up with more strength sapping knees. Jong still tries to land with hard punches, but has very little left and the referee steps in to save him from further punishment.

Fikri Arkan (white) Turkey vs Soishiro Miyakoshi (black) Japan

Both fighters waste no time opening up with solid shots in the opening round. Fikri looks sharp at first, but midway through the round, gets caught by a crunching punch, from the bigger Soishiro and backs up to the ropes. Soishiro opens up with some heavy punches now and at first Fikri just goes into a shell and soaks them up. Fikri explodes off the ropes near the end of the round and attacks soishiro with some solid shots, but it is short lived and the young Japanese fighter gets on top again. In round 2 Fikri starts the round stronger, firing in some heavy punches and some fast kicks. Soishiro soaks them up at first and then comes back with some hard punches and both trade power shots. Soishiro gets on top again by the end of the round and cuts Fikri with a hard elbow. Fikri fires in a few solid punches at the start of the final round, but Soishiro looks too big and too dominant now as he stalks Fikri around the ring and opens up with more hard punches. Fikri fires in an optimistic spinning heel kick, but it bounce off the guard of Soishiro and the young Japanese fighter unloads with more big bombs. Fikri looks tired now, but lasts out to the bell where Soishiro sees his hand raised as the winner. 











Salahdine Ait Naceur (white) Morroco vs Anthony Kane (black) Holland

Both fighters jump in and out of attack at first. Anthony starts to land with some solid punches and looks like he staggers Salahdine one time. Salahdine opens up with some sharp kicks and knees. Salahdine starts round 2 strongly, firing in some sharp kicks and knees. A short way into the round Anthony fires in a hard left hook and drops Salahdine to the canvas. Salahdine beats the count, but looks tired and just goes into defensive mode. Anthony pushes forward and opens up with more hard punches and a jumping knee. Salahdine comes forward at the start of the final round, but doesn’t look like he has much left in the tank. Anthony throws Salahdine down, but gets warned for performing a foul throw. Anthony, fires in another jumping knee and a few more solid punches. Salahdine looks resigned to defeat now and Anthony takes the decision at the bell. 









After the final fight it was time to bring all the winning fighters back out for the draw to decide the next round match-ups for the 25th of October, again to be held at the Hua Mark indoor stadium


The next round match-ups are

Rafi Zouheir vs Fabio Pinca

Liam Harrison vs Soishiro Miyakoshi

Petmankong Petfergus vs Vitaly Hurkov

Anthony Kane vs Youssef Boughanamen