Mel at work – doing what she does
Mel Walsh recently competed at the IFMA (International Federation of Muay Thai) games in Russia, bringing home a silver medal. She talks about family and fitness as the ‘headmistress’ of one of Australia’s premier Muay Thai gyms, Urban Fight Gym. Continue reading
William Luu is a budding fight photographer who uses his skills to support his studies in design. The above photo appeared on facebook recently, and is one of the most striking images published in Australian fightsports this year. I decided to track him down to ask about it. Continue reading
International Kickboxer Magazine, Nov/Dec 2012
Buakaw, known to his parents as Sombat Banchamek, is arguably one of the greatest fighters of the modern era. Over a career which spans a staggering 238 fights, he has established his career with a style and a slew of performances which have thrilled millions. Now, in the ultimate triumph of business over sport, it appears his career has been stolen from him – and us – in a legal quagmire. On the back of sixteen straight wins, he has been forced into retirement. JARROD BOYLE looks back over the reign of a great champion and wonders where to from here. Continue reading
International Kickboxer Magazine, Nov/Dec 2012
Michael ‘Tomahawk Thompson has had 41 fights in the brief period he has been Thai boxing. This is all the more remarkable when you take in to account he is only 22 years old. He tells the story of a remarkable career-in-the-making to JARROD BOYLE. Continue reading
I once trained with Nathan ‘Carnage’ Corbett while writing an article about him for International Kickboxer Magazine. He had a big fight coming up against a European opponent, and Carnage was then, as he is now, in a unique position; he’s almost never been beaten. Continue reading
Like it or loathe it, Wayne Parr’s new promotional venture, Caged Muay Thai, is here to stay. Some of the other featured fighters give us their two cents’ worth on the experience. Continue reading
International Kickboxer Magazine, Sept/Oct 2012
‘John’ Wayne Parr has reached retirement. His last fight – his 114th – was his last, and has him more excited than ever. Continue reading
This is old news, but the recently elected mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, has been charged by his constituency with the task of ‘cleaning up the city’. Many people will have heard of this in relation to preventing non-Dutch people going into the city to smoke weed. Van der Laan has also moved to outlaw kickboxing and MMA ‘galas’. Continue reading
L to R: Thom Harinck, Marcel, Raul Catinas, and some other dude I don’t recognise.
Marcel Dragan recalls the quotation from William Blake’s ‘Proverbs of Hell’; ‘He whose face gives no light shall never become a star.’ Marcel was the first, and probably the most influential, coach of one of the world’s most talented heavyweight kickboxers, Raul Catinas. This interview provides insight into Raul, as well as Cor Hemmers and Ramon Dekkers, in addition to the culture of Romania and why a hard sport like Muay Thai flourishes under such hard conditions. It’s also a portrait of one of the most unselfish, decent trainers I have met during my involvement with the sport.
Athough, he persists in calling me Jerry. Continue reading
Just in: Ben Edwards has defeated Raul Catinas by second round TKO. Looks like his trainer, Marcel Dragan, owes me a beer…
Theme Park at its Darkest 