How come there are no muay thai promotions?

[Jamiefighter]

I am frustrated and disheartened. I have been practicing muay thai for the last four years, I am 21, from minneapolis MN, and I have only had three fights. I train very hard just like any other muay thai fighter would (amateur at least-I have to work!); unfortunately, I could have at least 6 or 7 fights by now, but many fell through because the promotion cancelled or promoters simply could not find me a fighter. Now I train at a very reputable muay thai gym, and recently I was training super hard for a possible fight in april, but of course it gets cancelled. I am very pissed off because I am in shape and tough enough to fight every week; consequently, I wish I lived in europe, california (maybe) thailand or any other place that has an appreciation for authentic muay thai because I look at the sport of muay thai like a high school jock loves football. If any promoters want to set up a match for me reply back. I am 1-1 and fight between 147-155 lbs.

[JIMI]

Maybe its just not big where you live. You may need to travel out of state or even move.

[Khun Kao]

Sorry to hear that, dude! Its our lot in life, I think. I quit fighting for the very same reason. The first roadblock was that it became increasingly hard for the promotor to find opponents for me in my own weight class. I was beginning to have to fight outside of my weight category. Then, the fights stopped altogether.

What you may want to do is look into getting sponsorship. There are fights occurring all the time, but apparantly not in your area. For instance, on the East Coast, there are fights happening on a semi-regular basis. If you could get out here, you would be able to fight between 4-6 times per year.

On the West Coast, fights occur all the time also. Especially in Canada. Mike Miles is ALWAYS promoting Muay Thai events, and he takes good care of fighters. He's offered to pay for air fare, hotel, and meals.

Kor Hi Chok Dee!

Khun Kao

[retired]

i know people who could have gone quite far but didn't have the amount of fights they needed so now im going to make sure it doesnt happen again as im going mad to contact clubs myself for the fighters in my gym.

dont rely on your instructor get out there and sort it yourself as you can never rely on someone else but can always rely on yourself (the net makes this much easier), if your instructor doesnt like this then its time to start looking after yourself.

[Khun Kao]

retired is very correct. Your instructors and coaches do have your best interests at heart, but they can't do it all. If you and others in your gym can all help out by doing a little scouting around to find events to compete in, you guys may be able to get more fights under your belt.

Khun Kao

ps- out here on the East Coast, there are fights at the end of April in NYC, end of June in VA Beach, and mid-July in Richmond. That's just off the top of my head. Granted, that will require traveling on your part, but if you are serious about fighting, you may want to look into this deeper.

[darrianation]

I started in muay thai in the early 80’s and after 3yrs.of training I thought I was ready to fight (amateur anyway) Almost impossible to get fights. There where only a couple schools in the phoenix area at the time and virtually no organized competitions. Other than sparring and gym matches nothing else. I also had a black belt in karate at this time so I continued doing tournaments in karate. My true love was MT. I joined the navy and I continued to train in MT or karate as I could sporadically. By the time I got out of the navy I had to many things going on to get back to competition level in MT( wife, kids, work,etc.) . What I need is a old fat out of shape amateur class to fight in now and I’d be in heaven. I still practice Mt 3-4 days a week. Shadow boxing and heavy bag , no gyms where I live. I went to a couple of weekend seminars last year in Vegas and California. I used to go to them in Az, before they closed. I’ve traveled to Thailand a couple of times since I’ve been out of the navy (many times while in the navy) but this is expensive and hard to take time off of work to do them.

My advice to you is go for it. Move if you havta, cuz’ you don’t want to be wondering 15 years from now if you could have been a contender!

[Khun Kao]

Darrianation is VERY correct.

I feel my fighting career was cut short by lack of opportunity. I always wonder what "might" have been had I been able to start younger, or had the fight scene been more prolific as it seems to be becoming now (East Coast, again). Just how far would I have been able to take it?

At the time that I stopped fighting, I was the #1 contender in my weight class on the East Coast in three MT oraganizations (PAMTA, MTA-USA, & USMTA), and the champion in a fourth MT organization (ISMTA). I was trying to move up to compete on the national level, but that was when the fight scene completely dried up on me.

But, on the other hand, I at least can take comfort in knowing that I did make the most of my situation. The reason why I never took it any further than I did was due to circumstances out of my control. I wasn't blowing off fight opportunities or anything. Heck, I was actively trying to shop around for fights on my own with no further luck.

Do yourself a favor, try to do as much as you can NOW. Don't wait. Try to find a way to MAKE things happen for you. At least then, even if you run into similar circumstances to what I did, you will be able to look yourself in the mirror and know that you did everything that you could to make your fight career happen.

Khun Kao

[Khun Kao]

Upcoming Muay Thai Fight events for Spring & Summer

March 29th
Weekend War Kickboxing
St. Viators (venue, maybe?)
Chicago, IL
(no further info currently available)

*yes, I realize that this event is happening as I post this. But, hopefully the above info will be enough for you to ask around and find out more. As in, find out who the promotor is and get your name and info to him for future events.

April 5th
Operation: Confrontation
Earthlink LIVE
1374 W. Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA
770-518-9393

April 12th
Maximum Combat VI
Ft. Wayne, IN
(venue not currently listed)
260-466-5070

April 25th
Combatzone
Lido-the Nightclub
Revere, MA
(just outside Boston near Logan Airport)
978-828-2149 (Bruce or Lucinda Marshall)

April 26th
Extreme Kickboxing: Ring of Terror
Ark Angels Boxing Club
2415 Meyer Rd.
Ft. Wayne, IN
260-480-5739 (Robert Blake) or 985-397-0171 (Jeff Strickland)

April 27th
Fresno, CA (no other details yet available

June 7th
Ring of Fire Kickboxing 10
Holiday Inn
Ronkonkoma ,NY

https://www.ringoffirekickboxing.com

June 21st
King of the Ring VI
VA Beach, VA
(venue not yet listed)
757-486-6488 (William Varner)

July 19th
WKA Amateur National Muay Thai
Glen Allen, VA (Richmond)
(additional details not yet available)

*I've posted all the info that I currently have. I realize that many of these events are out of your way, but you never know. You may be able to make arrangements to travel and compete. At the very least, perhaps you could contact the promotors and give them your info. Maybe they can refer you to promotors who are closer to home...

Kor Hi Chok Dee!

Khun Kao

[Khun Kao]

Oh, I forgot one...

May 17th
Battlegrounds 4
Northern NJ or NYC (most probable)
Promotor: Ace Ramirez

https://www.battlegroundsusa.com

Khun Kao

[Jamiefighter]

Thank you very much for all the info. I also be sure to inform my training partners who need fights just as much as I do.

[Khun Kao]

Again, Good Luck! I realize I didn't exactly find anything in your neck of the woods, but, as the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Khun Kao

[retired]

you can sometimes get a promoter 2 come to your area by pooling fighters from clubs in your area & challenging other states etc..they do this a lot in great britain/england where one area will pick their best fighters Vs the rest.