America is sending a youth team this year with over 20 boxers travelling to Bangkok for the Youth Championships.
One of the boxers is a second-generation IFMA fighter following in her mother’s footsteps.
It’s a sign of how quickly our sport is growing in the US that they can field boxers in every age division; with six boys in the 16-17 age category alone.
The United States Muaythai Federation said: “This year’s USA Junior Muaythai Team is stacked top to bottom with the best Junior Muaythai fighters in the country!”
And like the American Olympic team this year in Rio, this Muaythai team will be looking to bring back as many medals as possible. Many of the fighters already have cupboards packed with bling with some holding titles across two national organisations.
Leandro Martinez, the youngest American boxer in the 10 – 11 years division, holds the TBA 32kg TBA title and was also fighter of the tournament that day. And don’t be fooled by his young age; he’s already had 27 amateur fights.
Thirteen year old Samantha Stephenson, the 46kgs TBA champ, is coming to Muaythai off the back of five years as a gymnast so we’re expecting some beautiful moves from her.
But even though they’re a new team, Tierra Brandt should be able to fill her team-mates in on what to expect. Her mother Desiree Brandt represented the USA at the 2012 World Championships held in Russia. And her father was the coach so it’s very exciting to see the torch being passed along to this new generation.
Best of luck to all the boxers travelling from the USA to Bangkok in your first ever Youth Championships! IFMA wish you to show your best skills in Bangkok and become the foundation of the US team when it hosts the World Games 2021 in Birmingham.

Tags: News

Source: IFMA.