Kickboxing: Hawke's Bay pair best of Kiwi contingent at world champs

Hawke's Bay's Case Needham (left) and Lucas McAdam did the best of the New Zealand contingent in Thailand. Photo/Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay kickboxer Lucas McAdam would be excused if he complained about the contrast in recognition for him and his opponents he beat at this month's World Muay Thai Organisation world championships in Thailand.

But that's not his style. He just takes it on the chin.

"Most of my opponents from Brazil, Uzbekistan, Lebanon and Kazakhstan are fully funded. When they return home with their medals they are welcomed home with parades and are considered national heroes where as I return to school like nothing has happened," 15-year-old Napier Boys' High School Year 12 student McAdam explained.

"Compared with them I suppose I'm fighting for fun. They're fighting for careers in the sport ... a better way of life. You can see the desperation in their eyes and it makes it a little easier to understand why they use the dirty tactics they do," McAdam, who along with fellow Jackals Gym fighter Case Needham were the most successful of the 15 Kiwi fighters at the event, said.

"They are usually out of control in the first round. However this means they start to tire in the second and third rounds and that's when I won the fights I won ... because I stayed relaxed."

McAdam, who made his third trip to Bangkok for the March 12-22 champs, won two gold medals and a silver with five wins and one loss.

"I exceeded expectations and it was an outstanding achievement when you consider the quality of the fighters I was up against. In most cases they were older and heavier."

"One of the commentators joked I was the biggest disappointment of the champs because I didn't get three golds," McAdam said with a laugh.

His gold medal in the K1 section was a tremendous achievement as he went up to the 58kg division to get fights as there were no other competitors in his 55kg division.

McAdam beat a Uzbekistan fighter in the final after beating a Kazakhstan opponent in his semifinal the previous night.

In his Muay Boran division final McAdam beat a Lebanon opponent in the final.

"My silver was the result of taking on one fight too many. My opponent saw me in the hotel the night before treating my leg and targeted that leg in the final. That's a learning curve for next time ... I need to hide my injuries better," McAdam recalled.

"I'll be going back again next year with the aim of winning three golds."

McAdam will fight Hamilton-based Colombian Ale Tellez for his New Zealand 61.2kg division title at his TMT Gym in Hamilton. This full Thai rules bout is scheduled for five two minute rounds.

"These title fights are longer and this means I'll have to do a little more endurance training before then," added McAdam who trains every day except Sundays and runs every second day.

Needham, 20, collected a bronze medal in his nine-strong 76kg K1 division. He beat a Lebanon opponent in his bronze medal bout after losing to a Kazkhstan fighter in the semifinal and beating an Australian fighter to reach the last four.

A fire alarm technician for Almak Ltd who has been fighting since he was 12, Needham was competing in Thailand for the first time. He also fought in the traditional Muay Thai division where he was beaten by another Lebanon fighter in the first round. That fighter went on to claim the gold medal.

"Considering it was my first time over there I was happy with those results," Needham said.

Tomorrow he will fight Whanganui's Sean O'Connor in the main bout at a New Plymouth event. This 75kg division full Thai rules fight is scheduled for three two minute rounds.

"Sean is the New Zealand champion in this division and from what I hear he swings and comes out early," Needham said.

His record reads 12 wins and 13 losses. Needham is hoping to secure a bout on the same card as McAdam in Hamilton next month.

After a couple of days rest after returning from Bangkok Needham resumed his training schedule which is similar to McAdam's.

"I came back in pretty good shape and I can't wait for this weekend's fight," he added.

It's obvious more will be heard about McAdam and Needham in future on the international scene. Just don't expect the exposure levels to be as high as some of their opponents receive in other parts of the world.