Kelvin Kelleher from Whakatane is sent to the canvas during his loss to Jo Van Duin from Tauranga's Warrior Muay Thai/Iron Wolves. Photo / Joel Ford
Kelvin Kelleher from Whakatane is sent to the canvas during his loss to Jo Van Duin from Tauranga's Warrior Muay Thai/Iron Wolves. Photo / Joel Ford
Muay Thai Mayhem lived up to its name with a spectacular night of Thai boxing at the Mount Sports Centre on Saturday night.
The annual event is the highlight of the Thai boxing year and there was no shortage of action in the 12 bouts held, with the feature theWKBF Flyweight title bout between Aucklanders Bonnie Porter and Gaela Nixon.
There were plenty of heavy hitting male super heavyweight fights along with an explosive mix of Muay Thai fighters from all weight divisions. Tauranga gyms represented were Red Dragon Thai Boxing Papamoa, Mount Mai Thai, Warrior Muay Thai/Iron Wolves and Hybrid MMA.
An International Tae Kwon Do Club New Zealand exhibition match was also held between First Dan Black Belt Kahn Brown and Second Dan Black Belt Carlos McDiarmid.
Event director Brent Maharey says for the last four years this has been the only show in town to showcase the sport.
"I am committed to continuing it to help grow the sport in this town and it gives my fighters a chance to fight locally plus there are other local clubs involved which gives them a chance to fight in their home town," Maharey said.
"The sport is developing well here and becoming more popular with the popularity of MMA with UFC and the fighting arts in general. It is huge in Auckland where there are a lot of gyms and they have shows on almost every weekend."
