WBC Muay Thai
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| Formed | 2004; 18 years ago |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit institution |
| Purpose | Muay Thai sanctioning organisation |
| Based | London, UK |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Global Leader | Kovid Bhakdibhumi |
| Website | www.wbcmuaythai.com |
The World Boxing Council Muay Thai (WBC) is an international professional Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) organisation deriving from the WBC. It is among one of the major organisations which sanction professional Muay Thai bouts, alongside the World Muay Thai Organisation (WMO) and International Sport Karate Association (ISKA).
the WBC is one of the four major sanctioning organisations in boxing, and begun certifying their own Muay Thai world champions in 2005..[1]
History[edit]
WBC Muay Thai was established in 2004 as a non-profit organisation with a stated goal to "develop professional Muay Thai worldwide, as an affiliated division of the WBC, adhering to the rules set by the Board of Boxing Sport (Office of Professional Sports) of the Sports Authority of Thailand".[2] The Sport is an integral part of Thailand's culture and identity[3], and therefore His Majesty, the King of Thailand hosted the WBC on November 26th 2001, consisting of then WBC President (Dr. Jose Sulaiman) and then WBC Vice–President and WBC Asian Boxing Council President (Police General Kovid Bhakdibhumi) in the spirit of working together.[4]
General Kovid was WBC Muay Thai's first global leader, and the sport has seen monumental growth under his tenure, with their now being 3,800 Thai boxing gyms overseas[5]. WBC Muay Thai aims to uphold the values of Muay Thai with Mongkom's (traditional Muay Thai headpiece) being required to be worn by fighters before a bout[6], these efforts to prevent Westernisation and retain Muay Thai's identity are commended by Thai and foreign fighters alike.
The first WBC Muay Thai world championship bout was fought on the 28th December 2006 in Cancun, Mexico between Kaew Fairtex (known today as Kem Sitsongpeenong) of Thailand and In-Wook Bin of South Korea, with Fairtex winning the title by TKO after a right elbow strike from Fairtex resulted in a referee stoppage[7]
Organisation, Rules & Regulations[edit]
Organisation[edit]
WBC Muay Thai is overseen by an executive committee consisting of a President (General Kovid remains in this role), an executive secretary, a secretary general, a deputy-secretary general, an honorary vice-president, two vice-presidents and five executive advisors.
The Championship committee consists of a chairman and vice-chairman.
The Ratings committee consists of one chairman, two vice-chairmen, five members and a secretary.
The Ring Officials committee consists of a chairman, vice-chairman, member and secretary.
The Regional Affairs committees and representatives have a global chairman, varying numbers of chairman for Africa (1), Central Asia(1), Europe (4), the Mediterranean (1), Scandinavia (1), South America (1) and South-East Asia (1), as well as varying numbers of representatives for member countries ranging from one representative to as many as eight in Australia.
They also have a public relations committee, an administrative committee and a Medical Advisory Board.[8]
Rules & Regulations[edit]
Fighters are required to wear a traditional Thai Mongkom (headband) before any bout to pay homage and may wear Pra Jiad (traditional Muay Thai armbands) during the fight. Before every bout fighters must pay homage[9] with the minimum extent being for fighters to seal the ring which involves walking around the ring with a hand on the ropes, traditionally the sealing of the ring was done to rid the space of any bad spirits and to receive protection from harm[10]. These are all required as part of WBC Muay Thai's drive to ensure the sport retains its Thai culture and identity when practiced internationally.
Fighters must be a minimum of 100 pounds (45.359 kg) for women and 105 pounds (47.627 kg) for men, and must be at least 18 years of age to compete for a title.
professional WBC Muay Thai championships consist of 5 x 3 minute rounds for men and 5 x 2 minute rounds for women.
Fighters may be disqualified for biting, eye-poking, spitting, head butting, groin strikes, back-breaking and strikes to the back of the head, neck or spine.
Muay Thai variates from other stand up striking sports such as Boxing or Kickboxing in that it allows the use of punches, kicks, elbows and knees (hence it is nicknamed "the art of eight limbs) as well as technical clinching and takedowns.[9]
Weight-Classes[edit]
WBC Muay Thai consists of 18 weight classes ranging from 105 pounds to +200 pounds.
| Division | Weight |
|---|---|
| Mini-Flyweight | 105 pounds (47.627 kg) |
| Light-Flyweight | 108 pounds (48.987) |
| Flyweight | 112 pounds (50.802 kg) |
| Super-Flyweight | 115 pounds (52.163 kg) |
| Bantamweight | 118 pounds (53.524 kg) |
| Super-Bantamweight | 122 pounds (55.338 kg) |
| Featherweight | 26 pounds (57.153 kg) |
| Super-Featherweight | 130 pounds (58.967 kg) |
| Lightweight | 135 pounds (61.235 kg) |
| Super-Lightweight | 140 pounds (63.503 kg) |
| Welterweight | 147 pounds (66.678 kg) |
| Super-Welterweight | 154 pounds (69.853 kg) |
| Middleweight | 160 pounds (72.575 kg) |
| Super-Middleweight | 168 pounds (76. 204.kg) |
| Light-Heavyweight | 175 pounds (79.379 kg) |
| Cruiserweight | 200 pounds (90.718 kg) |
| Heavyweight | +200 pounds (+90.718 kg) |
Current WBC Muay Thai world champions[edit]
Currently eight of the eighteen WBC Muay Thai weight classes are vacant of a world champion, with two booked in to be fought for in the near future. WBC Muay Thai also hands out Regional and National belts as well as special belts such as the Nai Khanom Tom Challenge belt which celebrates the legend of the father of Muay Thai; Nai Khanom Tom, and to highlight the rich heritage and culture of the sport of Muay Thai around the world.[11]
| Division | Name | Gym/Country of origin | reign began |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-Flyweight | vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Light-Flyweight | vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Flyweight | vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Super-Flyweight | Issei Wor Wanchai | Japan 🇯🇵 | 23rd September 2022 |
| Bantamweight | vacant (booked) | N/A | N/A |
| Super-Bantamweight | Ryan Sheehan | Siam Warriors gym, Ireland 🇮🇪 | 23rd April 2022 |
| Featherweight | vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Super-Featherweight | vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Lightweight | Luca Falco | Italy 🇮🇹 | 30th July 2022 |
| Super Lightweight | vacant (booked November 26th) | N/A | N/A |
| Welterweight | Sajad Sattarii | Iran 🇮🇷 | 14th May 2022 |
| Super-Welterweight | vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Middleweight | Victor Hugo | Brazil 🇧🇷 | 6th August 2022 |
| Super Middleweight | George Jarvis | Lumpini gym, England 🏴 | 9th April 2022 |
| Light Heavyweight | George Mann | Scotland 🏴 | 27th May 2022 |
| Cruiserweight | Gerardo Atti | Germany 🇩🇪 | 25th September 2021 |
| Heavyweight | Lyndon Knowles | England 🏴 | 27th November 2021 |
The most successful Muay Thai gym in terms of WBC Muay Thai currently is Lumpini Gym in Crawley, UK, the gyms fighters include Super Middleweight World champion George Jarvis (also WBC European and British champion as well as holder of the prestigious and sought-after Nai Khanom Tom Challenge belt) and Lightweight International champion Dylan Burke (also WBC European and British champion)[12]
Hall of Fame[edit]
WBC Muay Thai has a hall of fame, consisting of people who have relation to WBC Muay Thai and have shown a huge commitment to the progression of the sport and sanctioning body and act as life-long ambassadors of the sport.
Current Hall of Famers are:
- Ginty Vrede (deceased): former WBC Muay Thai World Champion, he collapsed whilst training in January 2008 and passed away on the way to hospital.
- Tiana Caverly: Womens former WBC Muay Thai Bantamweight World Champion, still contributing to the sport today as a ring official in Perth, Australia.
- Kaoklai Kaennorsing: former WBC Muay Thai light-heavyweight world champion, he currently coaches at Evolve MMA in Singapore with fellow Hall of Famer Sagetdao Petpayathai.
- Shane Del Rosario (deceased): former two-time WBC Muay Thai heavyweight world champion and the first American to win a WBC Muay Thai world championship, he suffered a full cardiac-arrest in November 2016 after two heart attacks and passed away.
- Miriam Nakamoto: former WBC Muay Thai lightweight world champion and the first female American to win a WBC Muay Thai world championship.
- Julie Kitchen: former WBC Muay Thai welterweight world champion and the first female British fighter to win a WBC Muay Thai world championship.
- Lamsongkram Chuwattana: former WBC Muay Thai middleweight world champion and one of WBC Muay Thai's most decorated champions.
- Steve Wakeling: former two-weight WBC Muay Thai world champion.
- Anuwat Kaewsamrit: former WBC Muay Thai featherweight world champion, he currently coaches at Impax Academy in Thailand.
- Sagetdao Petpayathai: former WBC Muay Thai super-lightweight world champion, he currently coaches at Evolve MMA in Singapore with fellow Hall of Famer Kaoklai Kaennorsing.
- Kem Sitsongpeenong (formerly Khem Fairtex): former WBC Muay Thai super-welterweight world champion, the first WBC Muay Thai World Champion and gym owner in North-East Thailand.
- Artem Levin: former WBC Muay Thai light-heavyweight world champion and ambassador for Muay Thai in Russia.
- Steve McKinnon: former WBC Muay Thai super-cruiserweight world champion.
- Nathan Corbett: former WBC MuayThai cruiserweight world champion and current Muay Thai commentator for Lion Fight Promotions on CBS Sports and feature author at Fightmag.
References[edit]
- ↑ "HISTORY - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "HISTORY - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ Williams, Sarah (2018-02-27). "Muay Thai and its Place in Thailand's Culture". Culture Trip. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "General Kovid Bhakdibhumi Elected as WBC Supreme Council lifetime member". Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "Army's role in boxing a shady affair". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "RULES & REGULATIONS - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ Trefeu, Serge (2009-01-01). "KAEW FAIRTEX". SIAM FIGHT MAG. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "COMMITTEES - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "RULES & REGULATIONS - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ Drive, Dean Park Neighbourhood Centre 9 Yarramundi. "Pre-fight Ritual". Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "DOI TUNG & WBC: HONORING THE HERITAGE OF MUAYTHAI IN A UNIQUE MANNER - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ↑ "MALE - WBC MUAYTHAI". 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
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