By Matt Lucas: February was a thrilling month for WBC Muay Thai, with major fights, rising stars, and significant collaborations shaping the future of the sport. From the Pan Am Games in Mexico to the upcoming Amazing MuayThai Festival, let’s take a look at the biggest highlights of the past month.
Pan Am Games and Major League Muay Thai
The Pan Am Games in Monterrey, Mexico, were a massive success. The games featured three days of intense competition alongside WBC title fights at Major League MuayThai.
Headlining the event was a standout performance from WBC Muay Thai Super Bantamweight World Champion Selina Flores. Demonstrating maturity and dominance in the ring, she secured a clear five-round victory over Barbara Fersan of Brazil.
“Selina’s another level and she continues to develop and excel as a champion,” Secretary General of WBC Muay Thai Kevin Noone said.
This was Flores’ first title defense. She took home the title after defeating Byrony Soden in Perth Australia.
Other notable fights included Elias Ghazali fromMalaysia/America facing off against Travis Petralba. It was a close contest.
“Petralba came in with heavy hands. Ghazali has more of a classic stadium style, which was really fun to watch,” journalist Matt Lucas said.
Petralba took home a Nai Khanom Tom Prestige Superlightweight title.
Also on the card was an electrifying debut by 17-year-old Mexican fighter Marcelo Pedrosa, who appears to be a future star in the making.
1774 Muay Thai: Zoe Putorak’s Title Defense
In Australia, the 1774 MuayThai event delivered an unforgettable night of action. Zoe Putorak successfully defended her world title for the third time in a hard-fought split-decision victory against Katie Rose Mitchell. The fight pushed Putorak to her limits, proving her resilience as a champion.
“She’s a champion’s champion, regularly defending her title,” Noone said. It was a split decision victory for the champion.
“Katie Mitchell pushed Putorak all the way to the end,” Noone said.
The event also saw a spectacular knockout victory by Thailand’s Wanchloem against his Cambodian opponent, Poth Sombo. It generated buzz across social media. Wanchloem’s spinning back elbow was executed with precision, securing a decisive knockout.”
Another highlight was the long-anticipated bout between Josh McCulloch and Ibrahim Abou Saleh for the Super Featherweight Australian Title, adding another thrilling chapter to their rivalry.
MuayThai Super Series: Kong Thailand vs. Joe Ryan
The Muay Thai Super Series in Australia featured an explosive fight between Kongthailand and Joe Ryan. The battle had all the intensity of a stadium title fight, with Kongthailand emerging victorious in a closely contested match.
“It was almost a throwback to an old stadium title fight at the old Lumpinee Stadium,” Noone said. “It was just incredible to watch.”
The fight is still available for viewing at livecombatsports.au.
Along with the main event was a destructive performance by Niamh Kinehan. The UK athlete smashed her way to a WBC Muay Thai Lightweight World Title. Kinehan secured the victory via 4th round TKO.
Documenting MuayThai’s Legacy
A significant moment for MuayThai came with the release of a new WBC MuayThai documentary.
Featuring legends like Yodsanklai, Matthew Deane, and Saenchai, the documentary provides a historical perspective on the sport’s growth. The film documents the twenty years of WBC Muay Thai.
“The hairs on my arm were standing up when I watched Saenchai being interviewed and talking about how proud he was to be a WBC Diamond Champion,” Noone said.
Liam Harrison’s Diamond Belt Showdown
One of the biggest upcoming fights is Liam Harrison’s highly anticipated clash with Isaac Araya for the WBC Muay Thai Diamond Belt. Scheduled for March 8 in Manchester, England, this fight is set to be a historic battle between two former world champions.
“Harrison has been a great ambassador for the sport of Muay Thai… He always wanted that one last accolade, the coveted, prestigious WBC MuayThai Diamond Championship. It’s happening next weekend in Manchester. Cannot wait,” Noone said.
Final Thoughts
As MuayThai continues to expand globally, WBC MuayThai remains committed to promoting the sport, supporting its athletes, and fostering new talent. With upcoming events, international collaborations, and groundbreaking initiatives, the future of Muay Thai looks brighter than ever.
Stay tuned for next month’s WBC Muay Thai news, where we will bring you more updates on the biggest fights, rising stars, and developments shaping the sport. Until then, keep training, stay inspired, and continue to support Muay Thai.