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Siam Warriors

Ireland’s most successful promoter Martin Horgan pulled off yet another huge event this weekend with his Siam Warriors promotion in Cork, writes Phil Shedden.

Headlined by arguably the biggest Muay Thai fight you’ll see this year, Littewada Sittikul vs. Pakorn, the event featured some incredible contests, with knockouts, comebacks and eye-catching displays in abundance.

In the Siam Warriors Cork main event,  an animated Irish crowd gave both Littewada and Pakorn an electric reception as they were announced and the traditional Wai Kru carried out. Littewada looked much the slicker of the two from the first bell, displaying quick teeps throughout the first round while Pakorn attempted counters that were largely unsuccessful. A fantastic elbow in the second from Littewada caused a huge lump on the head of Pakorn and seemingly encouraged the Channel 7 champion to came forward with long knees.

The third was arguably Littewada’s best round, in which he displayed the better knees from the clinch. By round five it was clear Littewada was ahead and he took his foot off the gas, allowing Pakorn to capitalise with a couple sweeps from the clinch and kicks across the arms. All tbree judges awarded Pakorn the last round but it proved too little too late as Littewada emerged victorious at the end of an absolutely mesmerising five rounds.

Waterford Thai’s Shane McConnell stole the show early on with a superb display in front of a sold out Neptune Stadium. His flashy, unorthodox style proving too much for opponent Ladis Plachky. Coming out of the traps quickly as the first bell rang with a lightning-quick. one-two left kick combination, McConnell found his rhythm early and was soon landing spinning kicks and combinations at will. The end came in the second round as Plachky buckled under a barrage of punches, beating the count twice before the referee waved it off. There is a huge future ahead for McConnell, judging by this display.

The first championship bout of the evening saw Wayne Grant take a first round stoppage win over Siam Warrior’s own Dave O’Brien to win the ISKA Irish Middleweight title. An early left hook from Grant caught O’Brien flush on the chin and the Irishman found himself on the canvas within the first 20 seconds of the opening round. Although he managed to get to his feet, Grant smothered him with further shots before the referee waved it off at 46 seconds of the very first round, declaring O’Brien in no state to continue.

The stoppages came thick and fast from that point, with Killian Bushe and Mohammed Kalf taking first and second round TKO wins respectively.

It was difficult to pick a standout bout from this card of stunning fights but the Fight Of The Night for me featured Siam Warriors’ Wayne Cambridge and Jamie Moore from the Warriors Gym. Over three rounds an absolute war ensued, with both fighters leaving everything in the ring. From the off there were knees and elbows flying and both sustained cuts in the first round. Cambridge appeared the stronger of the two in the clinch and looked to keep the majority of the fight there, landing the cleaner knees but always being made to work hard by his opponent, who rarely took a backwards step.

The second round was much the same and a turning point was almost reached as Moore, after coming second best in the clinch exchanges, landed a flush right hand on his opponent who was momentarily stunned, but the bell sounded and he was spared the follow-up barrage that was sure to come. The third round was a more even affair with Moore managing to dump Cambridge to the canvas but the scoring front kicks and knees from the Siam Warriors man ensured he took a unanimous win.

The first international bout at Siam Warriors Cork featured Sasiprapa’s Pongsaklex and Rayan Mekki from the world-renowned Nasser K gym in France. The Thai was comfortable for the first two rounds, landing heavy body kicks early on. Clinch exchanges were nullified by both in the early stages as both fighters seemed keen to stand and trade. The momentum changed in the third round when Mekki, edging behind at this stage, came out firing, looking to take the fight in the clinch and land quick knees and elbow. A beautifully timed left elbow as Ponsaklex came forward landed square on the Thai’s head, opening up a nasty cut. The medical team were called to inspect it by the referee and the bout was called off – Mekki takes a huge scalp back to France!

Other notable bouts included an ISKA Featherweight Title defence as champion James O’Connell defended his strap against William Murphy in another FOTN contender. The baying fans were treated to a five round toe-to-toe war during which O’Connell peppered Murphy’s legs with low kicks early on, while Murphy looked to utilise clinch and knees. By the end of the third round the champion had edged in front on the scorecards after proving the stronger in the clinch.

Murphy’s best period came in the fourth when, sensing he was behind, he dominated the clinch exchanges for much of the round with O’Connell’s success limited to a couple of clean kicks to the body.

It was O’Connell who had the most left in the tank in the final round and he cleverly utilised good body kicks throughout while avoiding the knee attempts from his opponent. As always, the display of respect from both fighters was admirable as the final bell rang and they embraced each other after a gruelling contest. O’Connell was declared the winner via unanimous decision and retained his ISKA title.

The loudest reception of the night was given to Siam Warriors young start Ryan Sheehan, who’s bid for a first European Title saw him take on Frenchman Tristan Caetano, who boasted a knockout win over Mohammed Bouchareb on his CV. Sheehan, unimpressed, came out like a man possessed from the first bell and quickly asserted his dominance in the clinch, he landed devastating knees and elbows, resulting in Caetano returning to his corner at the end of the first round with a cut around the eye and looking somewhat bewildered.

The bout was allowed to continue and did so in much the same fashion, with Sheehan throwing his opponent to the floor on numerous occasions and seeking to open the cut further with elbows from close range. A second inspection of the cut from the medical team midway through the round resulted in the bout being called to a halt and Sheehan was declared the winner, much to the delight of the crowd.

All in all a historic night of Muay Thai action delivered one again by Martin Horgan and his Siam Warriors team who continually succeed in bringing the best of Thailand to the Irish shores.