America: Does it have good Muay Thai fighters and Kickboxers?

[Boxing Master]

I just want to know from those who specialize in Muay Thai and Kickboxing on whether or not the U.S. has fighters that are on equal grounds, or are better than MT fighters and kickboxers in Thailand and Europe. I read in a magazine that stated the Maurice Smith is considered to be the best pure leg kicker of his generation(pg 10 of the one mentioned below) and he is from the U.S. and is also the first striking style fighter to beecome UFC heavyweight champion of the world(to my knowledge). But Rob Kamen, who is suppose to be the greatest MT/Kickboxer of all time(or so the magazine states) saide the U.S. is not on equal grounds with Europe and Asia for unknown reasons. He stated Martial Arts Legends Presents: The Greatest Fighters of All Time issue in June 2000.

"The United States does not have many good fighters. I am not sure why that is. Maybe becuase they don't like the contact. In boxing they have a lot of good people. you know, there's not so much in money in kickboxing, so maybe that's the reason."(58)

I have seen K-1 and saw Michael McDonald, Dewey Cooper, and other American kickboxers, and in the past Benny "the Jet" Urquidez, and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and I thought they were exceptional, but Muay Thai and kickboxing are not my specialty. I hear how great the Thai are in their national sport and art, and how the Europeans are fans of it, but where does the U.S. stand with the world's best.

Please let me know what the truth of the matter is.

[Tom Yum]

Micheal McDonald fought up a weight class in K-1 against Cro-Cop. He's normally a cruiserweight, I think.

He Kod Cro-cop in the 2nd round.

[shadowkiller]

Isnt mikey from canada?

[Tom Yum]

Isnt mikey from canada?

Yeah....ok, North American. My guess is that America produces good kickboxers, but not the best. The sport isn't popular enough to attract the best talent. Japan and Europe have a sizeable following in kickboxing.

US and Mexico tend to produce the best boxers. Russia and the Phillipines come up with world class fighters too.

[darrianation]

Yeah....ok, North American. My guess is that America produces good kickboxers, but not the best. The sport isn't popular enough to attract the best talent. Japan and Europe have a sizeable following in kickboxing.

US and Mexico tend to produce the best boxers. Russia and the Phillipines come up with world class fighters too.

I agree with tom. The reason why we are behind:

1) Its fairly new to this country. When I first began MT in 1982 there were only a hand full of gyms and no one had ever even heard of Muay Thai. In Asia and parts of Europe it was already a booming sport and it had been for sometime.

2) Here fighters have to work jobs, some full time, and some even have families. They train and fight on the side. Those who do MT full time all the time are few and far between. The money isn't good and the caliber of fighters seems not to be necessarily the cream of the crop.

So we are left playing catch up to the rest of the world. But I think we are on the right path. MT in North America has come a long way since I began in it. Everyone knows what it is now and there are schools popping up everywhere. There are more events popping up all the time too, giving our fighters more and more experience, and showcasing the sport for all Americans (Canadians too) to see. The day is coming when we will be a force to be reckoned with.

[Khun Kao]

darrianation is very correct.

Personal example:

I began training in '92 on the East Coast and started fighting the next year. Muay Thai had started to take off, but fights only occurred every few months. I fought every possible opportunity in '93 & '94, and only managed to get 8 fights. Twice I had to fight up in weight (TWO weight classes!) just to have the chance to fight at all.

After my 8th fight, the fight scene completely dried up. There were no more fights. I tried shopping myself around to get fights, even in the midwest, but there were no takers. So I ended up "retiring" prematurely at the end of 1994.

There were a few scattered fights here and there in 1995, but there was no one in my weight class near my fight experience for me to compete against. I had 8 fights (and held a title) vs. everyone elses zero to 2 or 3 fights.

By the time Muay Thai started to take off again in 1999 and 2000, I was so far out of shape and had started a career, so I was not prepared to step back into the ring. It has taken me the better part of the last 4 years to get back into fighting shape, but I've finally done it! I am fighting again! I had my first fight in TEN YEARS back in March, and I'm fighting again tomorrow night!

But, to be totally honest, the competition is definately better than it was in the early 90's, but I don't believe we (as Americans) are all that great yet. We're getting better, but we still suffer from lack of competition and quality opponents.

For instance, in my own weight class, most of the good fighters have gone pro now. It makes finding fair matchups for me difficult for promoters. Its not that I'm better than anyone, its just that I have more fights than most within my weight class. I'm kinda at the point where my best option may be to go pro also. I intend on fighting amateur at least through this summer, then evaluating my performance to decide whether or not to go pro, or quit fighting again for good (yeah right!).

[darrianation]

You go Khun Kao!

Keep us posted on your endeavors and fights.