Last Sunday the Kao Loi Gym, based at The Zone at Hornbeam Park, organised an afternoon of Thai Boxing at The Manhattan Club on Beech Avenue. The show featured 14 bouts contested between boxers from all over the country.  Also on the show were 5 fighters from the Kao Loi Gym itself, Harry Brecken, Harry Ettridge, Guy Hickson, Doroteo Perez, and Duncan Scott.

Harry Brecken fought Isaac Taylor from Bolton in a Junior bout.  Taylor was much more experienced than the Harrogate fighter,  but despite this Brecken made a bright start.  Unfortunately he received a low blow very early in the competition.  This put him on the defensive and although showing excellent heart to work back into the fight, left the comeback a little too late to get the decision.

Harry Ettridge was next to compete and was coming off an excellent stoppage win against German opposition.  Ettridge’s opponent this time would be Mohammed Naveed from Halifax, a tall fighter with excellent technique.  The Kao Loi fighter struggled initially to cope with Naveed’s long reach but was still scoring well with roundhouse kicks.  However, by the fourth round he had found his rythm and began balancing his own attacks with some excellent defense to restrict Naveed’s scoring.  Ettridge moved ahead on the scorecards and took the victory on points.

Guy Hickson then faced York fighter Matt Reading, matched at 75kg.  The fight began quite evenly with both fighters landing good kicks and punches.  The two moved into the clinch and in a great balance of technique and strength, Hickson moved his arms into an advantageous position, and delivered a number of devastating knee strikes which dropped the York fighter.  He took an eight count and made it to the end of the round.  However it was only a matter of time until Hickson got himself to the same position again and ended the fight in the second round.

Doroteo Perez, who also trains at Ripon Kao Loi, made his debut against Alex Yum from Manchester.  This was an excellent fight from the off with both fighters trading punches, kicks, and knees all the way through.  However, Perez found his range for a couple of knees towards the end of the fight which dropped Yum for an eight count.  The Ripon man then immediately closed in and finished the fight with more knee strikes.

The 250 strong crowd were then treated to a devastating show of power striking in the main event which featured Kao Loi’s rising star Duncan Scott.  His experienced opponent Adrian Maguire, who trains at the well known Kstar gym in Birmingham, was well prepared and came in on weight in excellent shape.

On the sound of the bell, both fighters moved straight to the centre of the ring and began to trade heavy punches and kicks.  Scott landed a heavy kick and it was apparent that he held the edge in strength.  However Maguire showed his level by narrowly missing with an elbow strike.  Both fighters mixed up their ranges and techniques excellently and the crowd appreciated the skill of both men.  Into the second round and Maguire began to pick up the pace.  He landed some great body punches and kicks, but Scott just grinned and brought the fight to the Kstar fighter.  Towards the end of the second he landed a knee strike giving Maguire and eight count, and followed this with another three eight counts in the third, the final one with a punch high kick combination.  Three counts in one round ended the contest with a terrific win for Scott, who fights next in Dublin at the end of May.

Pierre Mahon, Head Coach at the Kao Loi Gym said, ”All the fighters on the show were excellent and i’m very proud of the performances of our guys.  It was a great testament to the hard work they all put in at the gym.   We are all looking forward to our next event at the Pavilions on September 8^th which will feature Duncan Scott and Kris Addis”