Muay Thai has started to hit its stride in the North America in the recent years. In addition several gyms hold some very talented amateur fighters, some who have racked up a great amount of amateur experience and are now ready to start taking their skill set to the pro level. Gyms like North Jersey Muay Thai in New Jersey, Real Fighters in Kentucky and Team Ultimate in Toronto to name a few have fighters that in the future will be the next wave for North American Muay Thai. In our new series, “Prospect Watch”, we look at fighters that have recently turned pro, or started coming into their own that we expect to make names for themselves in the North American Muay Thai scene. In our first installment we highlight Troy Sheridan of Team Ultimate in Toronto, Canada.
Sheridan recently made his professional debut at the 2012 season opener for Friday Night Fights Muay Thai (FNFMT). Sheridan wasted little time getting to work as he defeated Utah’s Anthony Ford by (T)KO in the second round. Sheridan started working his leg kicks early in the fight and by the second round, Ford could no longer remain on his feet as Sheridan continued to target Ford’s leg as he looked to end the fight.
The win against Ford didn’t come as a surprise to many as Sheridan had an impressive run as an amateur, his record of 14-1 would have been perfect if not for a loss in July of 2011 in the finals of the FNFMT “8-to-1” tournament. All very impressive for someone who only started Muay Thai as a hobby. Sheridan followed his brother to the gym one day and the rest is history.
“I’m from a town North of Toronto called Stouffville. It's about 45 minutes to an hour from the gym” Said Sheridan. “I got in to Muay Thai after my brother and one of his friends started training at Ultimate Martial Arts. He brought me in and I never left.” Sheridan had no ambition to fight early on; he simply started training because being from a small town “there isn't much to do”.
After a while he began to realize that he didn’t just want to train to stay busy, but he wanted to compete. As his skills progressed he took to the amateur circuit culminating it what had to have been one of the most exciting tournaments held in North America. The “8-to-1” tournament featured some of the top amateurs from Canada and the United States at the 154lb weight division.
Sheridan fought a tightly contested battle for two rounds before taking control in the third round against then undefeated Phil LeGrand to kick off the tournament. He made short work of highly touted Diarmaid McGregor in his semi-final bout and despite falling short in the finals against Josh Fitzsimmons, Sheridan put on an exciting fight from start to finish. A few months after the tournament Sheridan decided to take his skill set to the pro ranks.
Now 1-0 as a pro, Sheridan can only wait for his next opportunity to showcase his skills. Under the tutelage of Kru Paul Minhas, Sheridan and his teammate Joseph Valtellini have acquired the reputation of finishers. They not only have the technical prowess to pick their opponents apart they have the instinct to end the fight. Valtellini has racked up a 5-0 mark since turning pro, all five of them ending before the final bell. If Sheridan’s pro debut is any indication of things to come you shouldn’t expect to see many of his fights go the distance.
“Finishing the fight is a lot more fun than winning on points. Winning on points can be risky especially as an amateur, and since the majority of my fights have been outside of Ontario in my opponent’s home town” said Sheridan.
With his skill set, his desire to finish fights, the instruction of Kru Paul Minhas and a solid team behind him, it shouldn’t be long before Troy Sheridan is a recognized name in the North American pro Muay Thai scene.
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