2006 IFMA WORLD AMATEUR MUAY THAI CHAMPIONSHIPS - (Bangkok,
Thailand) May 30th to June 8th, 2006
Courtesy of Mike Miles..
Canada and 74 other countries attended the 2006 IFMA World Amateur Muay Thai Championships held in Bangkok
from the 30th of May until the 8th of June, 2006. 18 countries attended the event applying for membership with the
IFMA organization (which now is a member of GAISF and represents amateur Muay Thai around the world).
Canada sent 13 athletes to the event, though there were approximately 20 athletes slated to attend the event. 5
athletes of them pulled from Eastern Canada while 2 pulled from Western Canada (due to work related problems).
Mike Miles Muay Thai and Kickboxing Ltd. sent 8 athletes (who won in the Team Canada eliminations) to the
world championships.
Canada was to bring home 8 medals and several other awards. They are as follows:
The Canadian Female Team was to score big at the event, winning the Best Female Team of athletes
from a country. Representing Canada were:
- Sandra Bastian / She was to win the Gold Medal as well as the award for the Best Female
Boxer of the event! Her first fight was against Nathalie Zoukatas of Sweden, and Sandra won the bout by
unanimous decision. In her second fight against Irena Dolecic of Croatia, she was to overpower the European
opponent in the clinch and the referee stopped the bout because Sandra was too strong for her opponent. The third
fight was against Julia Semenova of Russia, and this was a war. Black eyes were sported by both athletes
after the outcome of this bout. With this win, Sandra moved onto her final fight was against Nutrujar
Pradubmook of Thailand. The Thai athlete was heavily favored to win the event. Sandra chased her opponent around
the ring dominated at all ranges to win the 2006 IFMA World Title.
- Sylvie Charbonneau / She also was to win the Gold Medal. Her first fight was against Polly Wu of
Hong Kong and Sylvie just overpowered her opponent to win by stoppage in the second round. In her second fight,
Sylvie was matched up against Neng Hamidah of Indonesia. Her energy and forward movement was again the key to
stopping her opponent in the second and walking away with the World Title.
- Misty Sutherland / Her first fight was against Karla Benitez of Spain and Misty was to win a
close decision. In her second fight she warred against Lucia CorrigajShevchenko Valentino of Russia. The Russian athlete was very fast and
experienced and won a decision leaving Misty with the Silver Medal. A great effort!
The men's team had the following results:
- Jason Cutbill / The first fight for Jason was against South Africa's Brett Clarke. Jason was to
win the bout by stoppage. Kazakhstan's Akis Sariyev pulled out of the second fight for unknown reasons, so
Jason ended up with a bye. The third fight was against the Czech Republic's Roman Sifalda and Jason again was
to prove to strong taking the win. The final fight was against the Ukraine's Mudryk Andrit. It was a close
fight but Jason gave the Ukraine to much respect in the early going giving his opponent the edge needed to win.
Jason won the Silver Medal.
- Nate Smandych / The first fight was against Puerto Rico's Ben Corkish. His opponent used some
questionable tactics which sparked a fire and Nate pounded his opponent for the win. The second fight was against
Australian John Holland and Nate won this bout handily. The third fight was against Denmark's Steffen
Weise and this also was a war with Nate earning the win. The final fight was against Finland's Joona Hulmi.
Nate had a difficult time dealing with the height of his opponent who pulled a split decision win. Nate walked away
with the Silver Medal.
- Jesse Miles / The first round fight for Jesse was against Lithuanian Zelevas. Jesse was to win
by second round KO. The second fight for Jesse was against South African Daniel Marcus. Jesse was to win by
first round KO. The third fight for Jesse was against Iranian Nader Sapipour. The Iranian athlete pulled an
illegal back breaking technique which injured Jesse's back and made a disc bulge. In pain Jesse delivered what I
consider to be one the most devastating knockouts I have seen. An overhand right landed and put his opponent out on
his feet, then a heavy left hook followed which stretched the athlete out for 10 minute unconscious. Jesse won by
2nd round KO. Trying to help Jesse's back included 2 days of therapy (chiropracter and Thai massage), but it was not
enough. Coach Mike Miles said, "I feel Jesse would have knocked all his opponents out on the way to the world
title instead of having to settle for the bronze medal.”
- Darren Robson / The first fight was against Kazakhstan's Almas Smagulov. Darren was to earn the
win. The second fight was against Finland's Asad Hussin and though it was close, Darren earned another
victory. The third fight was against Australian Christ White. Darren could not put it together and the Aussie
won the match leaving Darren with the Bronze Medal.
- Scott Clark / The first fight for Scott was against Kazakhstan's Kassenov Almaz. Scott seemed a
little tentative during this fight, single shooting instead of delivering combinations giving his opponent the
ability to use the clinch. Scott was to lose this fight.
Mike Miles Muay Thai & Kickboxing Ltd. athletes represented Canada with a very respectable showing of
7 medals for 8 athletes: 2 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals.
