The legend of Masterton kickboxer Brendan Varty took another turn skyward on Saturday after he captured the Thai Boxing Association New Zealand Light Middleweight title at a tournament in Hamilton.
Varty, 23, fights for Harley's Kickboxing Gym and now holds the 69.5kg NZTBA North Island title, the 70kg NZ WorldMuay Thai Council title and the 70kg NZTBA title.
He relinquished the 73kg NZTBA title he won from B J Bland in July, which was in turn won at the Hamilton tournament by Lance Bishop, who fights out of Shane Bishop Kickboxing.
Mal Harley, who coaches the Masterton fighter, said Varty would fight Bishop for the title at a Hamilton bout in November.
He said Varty easily won the Light Middleweight title from defending champion Ian Menzies, who was knocked out in the third round of the full Muay Thai rules bout.
Harley said it was the "most brutal" punishment he had seen Varty mete out to an opponent and he commended Menzies for his courage in coming out after the first two rounds.
"Brendan was absolutely brutal right from the start. Most people would have called it quits after the first round and that speaks volumes about Menzies and his sheer courage as a fighter."
Harley said Menzies suffered "some serious damage" during the fight although Varty had come away with only a cut below one knuckle and swollen wrists.
Elliot Connery, a Harley's Kickboxing Gym novice fighter, completed his ring debut at the same tournament on Saturday in a non-contest bout against Hamilton Stormforce fighter Leo Gough.
Harley said Connery, at 56kg, acquitted himself well.
