Muay thai takes over Temecula, California on Friday, July 1 with a stacked Lion Fight 23 card, loaded with more than a handful of international stars.
The Pechanga Grand Ballroom is expected to be at capacity when Thailand’s Malaipet Sasiprapa takes on the UK’s definitive number one at 65kg, Liam Harrison.
‘The Hitman’ lost a tightly contested bout against a picture perfect Pakorn PKSaenchaimuaythaigym in March. Fighting out of Bad Company, Leeds, he flies to California looking to put himself back in the win column.
Malaipet of the Sasiprapa Gym, is a technically sound thai boxer. His overhand right and right push kick are tools he often utilises to help him to create space, and will be important to avoid Harrison’s punishing low kicks.
In the co-main, women’s Featherweight champion Tiffany Van Soest makes the first defence of her championship against Martyna Krol.
Van Soest, dubbed ‘The Timebomb’ won the belt at Lion Fight 22. She defeated Bernise Alldis in a gruelling match-up, which was called off in round four due to a severe cut under the right eye of Alldis; forged by Van Soest’s elbows.
21-year-old Krol, born in Poland, trains out of the Sasiprapa gym. Nicknamed ‘The Bully’ after she was kicked out of Singpatong Gym, Krol is a dangerous opponent and could pose a legitimate threat to Van Soest’s title reign.
The best of the rest at Lion Fight 23, one of the UK’s brightest stars Daniel McGowan faces Romie Adanza, veteran Mike Lemaire clashes with Andrew Kapel and California’s own Kevin Ross returns to face the durable Rungrat Sasiprapa.
Lion Fight 23 Televised AXS TV Main Card
Main Event 147 lbs: Malaipet vs. Liam Harrison
Co-Main Event Women’s Featherweight Title: Tiffany Van Soest (c) vs. Martyna Krol
140 lbs: Kevin Ross vs. Rungrat Sasiprapa
122 lbs: Victor Saravia vs. Stan Mancebo
187 lbs: Mike Lemaire vs. Andrew Kapel
118 lbs: Romie Adanza vs. Daniel McGowan
