A couple of months ago I wrote that the Slamm events were the benchmark for quality MuayThai promotions around the world. I’ve been to numerous shows in Thailand, Europe and the U.S. of varying sizes and budgets. In my experience I feel that the Dutch are able to strike a good balance between having a stacked card, with production and organisation.
Last night I attended the MSA’s second fight promotion at the Manchester Evening News arena (MEN) and I’m happy to say, that the MSA crew has stepped up and met that challenge
The venue, quality of fights, production and organisation (front of the house and back) were all world class. I had a chance to meet with a lot of the personalities who are involved in the production of this event. I spent sometime with their President, PR and Broadcast people, and I’m impressed with their knowledge, and enthusiasm. They all talk about raising the profile of MuayThai in the UK and Europe and after last nights show, I’m confident that it’s all moving in the right direction.
If you don’t want to know the fight results don’t read any further…
Fight Results:
(W/Points )Stuart Kemp – Tobins gym Leeds Vs. Mike Egan – taz muay thai
(W/Points) Simon Chu – Kiatphontip Leeds v Daitan Jackson – salford thai
Kieran Keddle – Semtex gym v Imran Khan – Wicker camp Sheffield (W/Points)
Neil woods – team Kaobon v Kevin Harper – majestic gym Wigan (W/Points)
(Win/Stoppage) Jordan Watson – bad company leeds v Gianluca Buccollero – Italy
Andy Howson – bad company Leeds v Dean James – pra chao sua (Winner/points)
(Win/TKO) Andy Thrasher – gfc Manchester v Hesdey Van Assen – Holland
(Win/Points)Damien Trainor – k-star v Kaewklaaa Kaewsamrit – Thailand
(Win/Points) Michael Dicks – Darlington v Bovy Sor Udomsorn – Thailand
Liam Harrison – bad company Leeds v Anuwat Kaewsamrit – Thailand
Some of the fights that stood out in my mind were Imran Khan and Jordan Watson.
Jordan fought a great fight despite loosing his 3 front teeth. I caught up with him after the fight and lucky for him they were able to cement them back in… apparently he feels that the mouthpiece interferes with his breathing… I would suggest wearing a mouthpiece with Buakaw.
He’s a great fighter to watch, he’s got excellent vision, shape/balance and aggression. I look forward to his battle in May.
Imran Khan was another stand out… I know he’d just spent some time in Thailand with our friends at Sasiprapa and it shows. He looked impressive against Keddle. Hopefully I can find a clip of the fight, but he’s just a really technical and entertaining fighter to watch. I know he’s got an upcoming fight in Jersey in May and I recommend you get out there and check him out if you can.
The Thai Fights:
Not a good night for the boys from Kaewsamrit. Kaewklaa was the first up against Damien Trainor, I felt it was a fairly close match right up to the final round. Trainor unsettled Kaewklaa with a nice teep and it was downhill from there.
I spoke with Kaewklaa after the fight, he was disappointed with his performance, but admitted he was a bit nervous from the whole experience. The travelling, the show… all added up. He thinks that now that he has this under his belt he’ll be better prepared for next time.
Bovy vs. Michael Dicks.
I’m a big Bovy fan, and it’s because I’m a fan I’d like to see him hang it up. Honestly it was painful watching his fight last night. Last night he was a caricature, of this smashing robot that could only move forward.
Dicks had very little trouble teeping him and cutting him. I think Bovy may have thrown one kick throughout the bout. He just kept eating punch after punch, elbow after elbow. I know he sells tickets, and crowds love that shit, but he’s reached his limit. Sitting ringside you can see round after round his eyes begin to roll back as he continued to stalk and be struck.
I think the damage is definitely done and they need to give him a rest. He’s 26 and I think he’s got a year or two max. I’d like to see retire while he still has some of his faculties left.
Harrison vs Anuwat.
Once again if felt like this was another even bout. I had them fairly neck and neck up to the last round. If I can remember correctly Harrison had a few sweeps and a nice neck kick that sealed it for him.
I had a quick chat with Harrison after the event. He was limping quite a bit after be peppered with leg kicks. He did tell me that Anuwat rocked him hard in the 4th, which nearly put him to sleep. He looked pretty good for someone who had just been through the Anuwat grinder… about 20 mins after our conversation, I was told by Rob Cox that Harrison was rushed off to the hospital after passing out. I don’t know if it was dehydration, fatigue, being rocked or all the above that caused it, but I hope feels better soon.
Overall it was an outstanding event. I’m looking forward to the event the London event in May. If you haven’t yet made it out to one of these shows, get up off you’re ass and go. I’d like to thank Fui Mee and Swee Lip for hosting me and allowing me to sit with their family. Dan and Laura for allowing me access and letting me poke around.
March 29, 2010 at 12:30 pm
I heard about the fights. And as much as I love Bovy I agree with you Nop. I don’t want to see Bovy getting seriously injured. It’s time for him to retire from fighting.
March 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Well said Stack and Nopster, I think we all think its time for Bovy to have a well deserved rest..
Congratulations to Imran Khan, you da man!!! Was good to see you after the fight, although i’m sure you could have done better against Keddle.
The fight that stood out for me was the Simon Chu fight. Chu faught a great fight giving Daitan Jackson an 8 count in the second round i think(can’t remember exactly)
Well done to all the English boys!!!
England has surley cemented itself on the muaythai map.
March 29, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Just an aside but Jompop said he bullied Simon hard at Kiatphontip UK!
March 29, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Thats probably true stack, Christain DiPaolo from wicker camp back then smashed him all over…
I was just saying that i thought he has come on a long way since then.
March 29, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Oh I meant in preparation for this fight Jompop bullied Simon hard.
March 29, 2010 at 3:52 pm
The show was awsome all the fights were great and very exciting.Great matchmaking.Went to train with Jompop this morning he said he didnt think that Kaewkla trained for the fight.Bet he regretts that!!The days of Thais fighting westeners being a walk in the park are long gone. I think and it showed in this event in spades.The Trainor/Kaewkla fight was incredibly exciting just awesome.Damien trainor is incredible to watch.Bovy is just plumb stupid these days maybe to many knocks but he fought a incredibly stupid fight.Anuwat was so obviously desperate for the knockout in the 5th he knew he had lost.Liam fought an incredible fight.
My friend and long time trainer from Thailand, Kin, is fighting Imran Kahn in Jersey, im cornering kin and very much looking forward to it will be great fight.
Literally cant wait for the next show gona be incredible.Jordan vs Buakaw, cant wait!!!
March 29, 2010 at 4:09 pm
jordan is the man I want to place some bets on his teeth
March 29, 2010 at 4:25 pm
I feel bad for Bovy in a way…. I think he feels he has to fight like that in order to be invited to other shows and then really doesn’t perform the way he can, we have all seen some of his fights where he is still forward but much smarter about it… well somewhat smarter anyways.
It is all about stocking the bank account to these guys and unfortunately that means entertaining no matter what the cost, I just hope for Bovy the damage isnt already done even though he looks like he has been through a cheese grader.
I hope Liam is ok that is scary when guys pass out after, if anyone has information please let us know. Jordan looks like a fellow Canadian hockey player haha most of us are sporting a couple fake teeth also after our hockey career haha.
March 30, 2010 at 5:36 am
its hard to say what bovy is thinking without a straight up interview[ahem anyone?]. maybe its a tuff guy pride thing or a strat hes sticking with. who the fuck knows. anyways i really wish him the best and no matter his fight outcome have a deep deep respect for the guy.
i am sad about anuwat.
March 30, 2010 at 5:37 am
i think the foreigners victories are well deserved. must feel good for them
March 30, 2010 at 9:24 am
yeah im fine, i wasfeeling a bit dizzy after the fight, i didnt pass out lol or get carried i was feeling a bit dizzy and a sbit sick so was worried i might have a concussion so thought it better to be safe than sorry….i really enjoyed the fight, and iv watched it back and although it was a hard fight it wasnt close, i won 3, 4 and 5 clearly anuwats bones are like steal tho im still sore today
March 30, 2010 at 10:30 am
are the fights up anywhere???
March 30, 2010 at 11:21 am
my pics from the event…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nopadon/sets/72157623605701927/
Not too many this time around… lots of running around etc.
March 30, 2010 at 11:41 am
Nice set of photos Nop. Jordan has got some big cajones to fight Buakaw and the other thing is I guess the cements Buakaw’s leaving of K-1 MAX?
March 30, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Heres the Imran Khan fight… quality isnt great but this is the only video out there right now: http://www.mediafire.com/?tzmaeyzzxny
March 30, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Nice find! Thanks!
March 31, 2010 at 6:12 am
since watson started fighting at 6 i think his cajones are of adequate size. i think hes more excited and not scared at all
April 16, 2010 at 11:25 am
Good show its about time the UK needed to start stepping it up, we been lagging behind the rest of europe on the muay thai front for a while now. I know that Imrans Fighting again in Jersey on the 24th April against Lertoranee Pertvihan , I belive as a warm up prelude to a fight with Liam Harrison. keep us posted on the London MSA Event I gota see Buakaw! Great SIte Nopstar keep up the good work!. This site is defintly the best online for Muay thai!