Kickboxing: Fuller nails maiden win at world champs

Lou Fuller and Kyle Gallacher take time out on the beach at Langkawi Island in Malaysia during the IFMA Muay Thai World Championships. Photo/Supplied

Diminutive Wanganui kickboxer Lou Fuller has won her first fight at the IFMA Muay Thai World Championships in Malaysia.

The Wanganui Assassins Guild fighter won a TKO first-round decision over Ayu Arynafa'izaazami (Malaysia) to claim the women's under-45kg bout on Monday.

The world championship on Langkawi Island is a strict knockout competition and runs until Sunday.

The 1.5m Fuller was to step into the ring for her second fight last night against Monruedee Saejao from Thailand.

The English-born YMCA furniture-making tutor gained automatic entry into the New Zealand team with no other fighters available in her weight division at the national championships this year.

Before leaving Wanganui for Malaysia, Fuller conceded she was an underdog at the world championships, but said she had changed her life to make the team to compete at such an event.

Fellow Wanganui Assassins Guild fighter Kyle Gallacher was defeated in his first fight on Sunday, but went into the bout carrying a knee-ligament injury he picked up more than two months ago.

The injury had hindered his training programme, affecting his overall fitness substantially.