The WBC Establishes World Muay Thai Championships and Takes Thai Boxing Mainstream

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The WBC Establishes World Muay Thai Championships and Takes Thai Boxing Mainstream

The World Boxing Council (WBC), headed by Jose Sulaiman, has expanded into Muay Thai kickboxing. The boxing organization is now sanctioning an official Muay Thai division. The division will be run by chairman Kovit Bhakdibhumi, who is also the president of the Asian Boxing Council. Titles will be available in 16 weight classes, and a women's division will be added in the future.

Two title matches will be fought in Australia on December 10. The bouts will feature Magnum Sakai from Japan versus Nathan Corbett of Australia for the Cruiserweight title. The second match will feature a fighter named Yodsaenklai from the world famous Fairtex gym in Thailand versus John Wayne Par from Australia for the Super Welterweight title.

By having a major, worldwide organization like the WBC sanctioning Muay Thai matches and titles, the sport is sure to have amazing growth world wide. This is a great thing for martial artists and fighters looking to get a legitimate, widely recognized title outside of the UFC, Pride, K1 or boxing.

http://martialarts.about.com/b/a/219397.htm

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Australia to host first Thai boxing world fight


BANGKOK (Reuters) -- Australia will host an inaugural Thai kick-boxing, or muay thai, world title fight next month, taking the centuries-old sport on to the international stage, its promoters said on Tuesday.

The fight in Brisbane, which will be recognized by the World Boxing Council's muay thai arm, pits Australian cruiserweight champion Nathan "Carnage" Corbett against Japanese number one Magnum Sakai on December 10.

In the super welterweight category, Australia's John Wayne Parr will fight Thailand's Yodsaenklai Fairtex.

The promoters said muay thai, in which knees and feet as well as fists are allowed, is the fastest growing ring sport in the world, with 300,000 participants in 90 countries, ranging from Thailand to Kuwait to the Netherlands.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Descripti...&Cat=6&Num=006

Wow what a crappy article. Heheh.

[Cassius]

I remember reading about this awhile back. Glad to see it finally happened. When is America going to get some Muay Thai love?

Kit Cope wouldn't be a terrible choice for a first fight in America, as he has some small bit of celebrity in the general American populace.

[Multitask]

Interesting news, will be fun to see if MT can take off. As for the 16 weight classes...damn! Are they going to divide them up every five pounds or something?

[alex]

16 weight classes is a bit fucking over the top in my opinion but at least they are bringing out the quality fighters. JWP and Carnage are the 1-2 of aussie muay thai

[Mayhem]

Is better summed up here:

http://www.muaythaipromotions.com/wbcmuaythai.html