March 18th will see a Nai Kanom Tom Tribute gala in Catalan Spain. The event is aimed at giving a chance to both amateurs and professionals in to pay homage to one of the most revered historical muaythai figures. Nai Khanom Tom, a warrior from Thailand's ancient capital, was captured after the Burmese sacked the city in 1767. His fighting style intrigued the Burmese king, who demanded a tournament pitting his own country's combatants against the Thai warriors.
According to legend, Nai Khanom Tom dazzled his first opponent with a pre-fight ritual called Ram Muay, a ceremonial dance honoring his teachers and mentors. Then he proceeded to pummel him, scoring a quick knockout. But the Burmese fighter cried BS, claiming Nai Khanom Thom's pre-fight dance distracted him.
The Burmese king knew how to settle this dispute: If Nai Khanom Thom could defeat nine more consecutive opponents, he would then prove the superiority of his fighting style, earning his freedom as a bonus. Nai Khanom Tom took on fighter after fighter, dishing out abuse, until finally none stood in his way. He earned his freedom – a feat celebrated every March 17 as "National Nai Kanom Tom Day" in Thailand and around the world by muaythai practitioners. Some great muaythai bouts on the fight cards:
1. Moushine the Ameri (International canovelles) vs. Julian Arias (meguro surplices) 3x2 67 kg
2. Raul Martinez (International canovelles) vs. Javier Ruiz (national fitness lleida) 3x2 72 kg
3. Eric Garcia (pure impact bcn) vs. Khyzer hayat (tbc Malgrat de mar) 60 kg 3x2
4. Ivan Rodriguez (International canovelles) vs. Jordi Gonzalez (Girona) 4x2 66 kg
5. Cristian Molero (International canovelles) vs. Salva (pure impact bcn) 4x2 MT 63.5 kg
6. Javier Maiz (meguro surplices) vs. Saidou Diaby (team chacon mataro) 3x3 71 kg
7. Lluis Lloret (international gym canovelles) vs. Pellizzon Damiano (Italy) 72 kg 3x3
8. Ismael Pilgrim (oswald girona gym) vs Menaouine Hichem (daithon l'Hospitalet) 3x3 71 kg
9. Sofian Kattoussi (international gym canovelles) vs Simone Ballerini (Italy) 75 kg 3x3
10. Andres "baby seal" Martinez (daithon l'Hospitalet) vs. John Jairo Batista (tbc Malgrat de mar) 60 kg 3x3
11. Ali Ameri (International canovelles) vs. Abdel Delazy (gym delta ebre fame) 3x3 81 kg 12. David Calvo "bloke" (daithon l'Hospitalet) Fonda vs. Luca (Italy) 69 kg 3x3 Source: IFMA.
|
