Amateur Fighter Spotlight: Pawel Zawistowski

The Muay Thai and Kickboxing world is filled with amateur fighters. Most of the amateurs won't turn into a professional fighter for one reason or another, while some will go on to make excellent pro athletes. If they go into the pro ranks or not one fact remains, they play a significant role in shaping the future of Muay Thai and Kickboxing. This week's Amateur Spotlight segment features Pawel Zawistowski.

Pawel who fights out of Kings Combat Fitness in Queens, NY recently won the Friday Night Fights 8-Man Tournament. We were able to catch up with Pawel and talk about why he started training, winning the tournament and his future goals.

MTA: When and why did you start training Muay Thai? 

Pawel: I started Muay Thai about 4 years ago. I always was a fan of combat sports especially stand up fighting, one day a friend of mine convinced me to try it out myself. A little time later I fell in love with Muay Thai and have been practicing ever since.

Photo by G. Binuya

MTA: What gym do you represent and what is your record? 

Pawel: I fight out of Kings Combat Fitness, it is located in Queens, NY. Dave Wai Moy is my Muay Thai coach and Andrew Rivera is my strength and conditioning coach. My record is 24W 4L.

MTA: What is your best memory since you started competing in Muay Thai?

Pawel: I would say the best memories are wining for the first time and also a victory in a title fight. Absolutely amazing feeling even until now.

MTA: When you started training was your goal to become a fighter? 

Pawel: At first I never thought I'd be fighting but after a year of training 6 days a week I told myself why not fight if I'm here training every day. So that's how it begun.

MTA: Is going pro something you are planning to do? 

Pawel: Yea I am planning on going pro very soon. I think I'm ready for it and whatever the future brings.

MTA: When can we expect to see you make your pro debut?

Pawel: Hopefully end of this year or beginning of the next. Time will tell.

MTA: What are your strengths that you think will help you in your transition to the pro ranks? 

Pawel: The strengths that will help me transition are my consistency, dedication and power of will. Every time I train for a fight I make sure I put in work and that I train hard every day.

Photo by Fury Magazine

MTA: You recently won the Friday Night Fights 8 man tournament. Can you describe to us the tournament atmosphere and how you felt after winning the tournament?

Pawel: The atmosphere in the room was incredible. Winning in front of my home town crowd and to be the first New Yorker to do so was epic.

MTA: What are your future goals in Muay Thai?

Pawel: The main goal is to be "the best in the world".

MTA: What do you think will be the biggest adjustment going from amateur to pro when you make that step?

Pawel: The biggest adjustment definitely the different pace, longer rounds, tougher competition that means train even harder. Besides that everything is pretty much the same.

MTA: Who are some of your favorite fighters? 

Pawel: There is a few Ernesto Hoost, Ramon Dekkers, Robin van Roosmalen, Tyrone Spong, Saenchai.

Amateur Fighter Spotlight: Ahmad Ibrahim

The Muay Thai and Kickboxing world is filled with amateur fighters. Most of the amateurs won't turn into a professional fighter for one reason or another, while some will go on to make excellent pro athletes. If they go into the pro ranks or not one fact remains, they play a significant role in shaping the future of Muay Thai and Kickboxing. This week's Amateur Spotlight segment features Ahmad Ibrahim.

Ahmad Ibrahim fights out of Philadelphia, PA where he trains at Ramie Elite under the guidance of his uncle Rami Ibrahim. He is one of the most active young fighters from the United States. At 19 years of age he is on the brink of turning pro and leaving his mark on the sport. 

In our interview Ahmad talks about his future goals and how it is training under his uncle.

MTA: When and why did you start training Muay Thai? 

Ahmad: I started training Muay Thai in 2011 and I started in Tae Kwon Do and wanted to try Muay Thai because I grew up watching fights.

MTA: What gym do you represent and what is your record? 

Ahmad: I represent Rami Elite out of Philadelphia, PA my record is 19-6.

MTA: What is your best memory since you started competing in Muay Thai?

Ahmad: My best memory competing in Muay Thai was when I was fighting in the TBA Classic Tournament and I was losing a fight so Rami told me before the last round that he hurt my grandmom so I went out and stopped him in that round.

MTA: You are one of the most active young fighters. How do you fit into your schooling etc?

Ahmad: It's not to hard to manage school and training. If you know you have school work just risk some of that sleep and do what you have to do. To be special you have to do special things.

MTA: You train under your uncle Rami, does it make things easier or harder working with a family member?

Ahmad: Training under my uncle is really helpful. We have a connection no one else can have. It's family he is always there for me and if he ever needs me I will be there for him.

MTA: Who are some of your favorite fighters?

Ahmad: My favorite fighter is Giorgio Petrosyan.

MTA: What are your future goals on the sport?

Ahmad: My goal is to become a WBC champion and a Glory world champion.

MTA: Do you prefer fighting full rules Muay Thai or Kickboxing rules?

Ahmad: I prefer fighting full rules Muay Thai.

MTA: How soon before you plan on going pro?

Ahmad: I was scheduled to turn pro October 10th but unfortunately the show was canceled so we are looking for another fight.

MTA: What are you short term goals in the sport?

Ahmad: My short term goals is to build a good pro record and fight on TV.

Photo by Bauzen

MTA: You have fought full grown men when you were just a teenager, how is it stepping in the ring with an adult?

Ahmad: To me it's no different then sparring the biggest guy in my gym. I'm used to being hit by grown men.

MTA: Any words for your supporters?

Ahmad: I would like to thank everyone who supported me and is continuing to support me in my journey to achieve my dreams! I would like to also thank my family for being there and my team Rami Elite for pushing me to be the best I can be. Also thank you to my uncle and trainer Rami Ibrahim for guiding me in this world. The sky isn't the limit for us!

NEW Muay Thai Gym Ranking System: Could Mean Tremendous Benefits for the Existing Muay Thai World

by Paula Ibieta

I hadn’t actually sat down to watch an entire UFC event in a while. This past Saturday, watching UFC 189 from beginning to end turned out to be a much-needed reminder. I had forgotten why nakmuays have a visceral reaction to any suggestion that they need to be more like the UFC. But now I remember. The songs, the shit-talking, the loudmouth commentary – it’s just too much. I get the appeal, but it’s the antithesis of everything we understand Muay Thai to be.

Don’t get me wrong; I can enjoy watching MMA and the UFC, and I will certainly continue to follow it at some level. When Ronda Rousey fights Bethe Correia on August 1st, nothing will be able to move me from my spot in from of the TV. But I couldn’t imagine a Muay Thai show on this scale using the same strategies. It’s a natural comparison, as MMA is the only fighting sport currently pushing its way into the mainstream. But it doesn’t fit for Muay Thai.

So what’s to be done? How is Muay Thai supposed to sell itself? It’s got to be different from MMA and Western boxing, not only because it is such afundamentally different sport, but also because the UFC already occupies that niche.

Can a Ranking System Help?

Here’s an idea. Siam Fight Productions, an Arizona-based promotion,has recently launched a brand-new venture: the International Amateur Muaythai Gym (IAMG) ranking system. Like many people in the Muay Thai community, Siam doesn’t believe in following too closely in the UFC’s footsteps. They feel that the business model of promoting characters doesn’t fit well with Muay Thai athletes because the majority of them are not as outspoken and boisterous as MMA fighters.

Instead, Siam is looking elsewhere for strategies. The IAMG ranking system is inspired by those used in all mainstream sports. It would rate Muay Thai gyms the same way the NFL or MLB rates its teams and players. Muay Thai gyms will be treated as teams with an overall rating. The points each fighter scores will contribute to that score, in addition to becoming his or her personal stats.

The Benefits of a Ranking System

This ranking system could mean tremendous benefitsfor the existing Muay Thai world – and it doesn’t cost promotersor fighters a cent.All that needs to happen is for promoters to visit www.muaythaigymrank.com, register, agree to have their shows ranked, and submit fight results. ThenIAMG system will calculate total points awarded per show, creating a live-updating ranking of the best gyms.

The IAMG rankings are formulated to favor the most active, competitive gyms. It’s an objective point system, calculating scores based on concrete results. For example, participation alone counts positively toward a gym’s score, regardless of outcome. Winning and/or defending a national or world title bringsmany more points. Offenses such as cheating, a no-show or any kind of WADA violation count as a negative score and so detract from a gym’s total.

Promotions that adopt this system can vastlyincrease theirpull. An IAMG-rated show offers fighters a new incentive: the chance to boost their gym’s reputation on an internationally recognized scale. By the same token, fighters and gymsreceive individual benefits. Athletes from recognized gyms becomemore desirable contestants and are more likely to receive a spot on a coveted card.

The IAMG website will also develop into a central database for promoters and coaches to build connections. Promoters will become more aware of active, competitive gyms, and coaches will gain a deeper understanding of which promotions are most suitable for their athletes. Having a centralized portal is crucial to fostering competition, as gyms and fighters will know exactly where they stand and how they can improve their status.

Building Fans from the Outside In – Fantasy Muay Thai?

The ultimate goal of the IAMG rankingsaren’t just to boost connections within the existing Muay Thai world, though. Siam’s ultimate goal is to build fans from the outside by “[taking] a page off of the NFL playbook.”Through the IAMG rankings,Siam is putting their own spin onwhat Forbes called the single most important marketing tool for the NFL, or the world’s most lucrative sports league– the game of fantasy football.

In this case, yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking – the IAMG rankings would eventually lead to Fantasy Muay Thai. It may sound far-fetched, but when you look at the change fantasy football has wrought on the financial state of real football, it’s more than worth considering. The improvements that fantasy football has brought to the real sport– a wider fan base, tighter social ties, increased viewership, greater excitement, more athletic personalities –are just what Muay Thai needs most.And fantasy football hasn’t achieved this by fostering controversy or creating outrageous personalities. It’s increased revenue by upping the thrill factor involved intechnical performance, something Muay Thai has no shortage of.

The Take-Away for Muay Thai – Going Beyond the UFC Debate

Evidently, the differences between football and Muay Thai mean that fantasy Muay Thai would play out in a significantly different way. But the potential is there for fantasy Muay Thai to have a similarly transformative effect.The rankings published by the IAMG system would provide all the information needed. With the right support, this could be just the thing to take Muay Thai one step closer to the mainstream.

What’s undeniable is that if Muay Thai is going to become financially viable on its own terms, it needs something radically different from what’s been done in the UFC. The UFC’s success can’t be argued with, but nakmuays should embrace the fact that MMA now exists in a wildly different niche than Muay Thai wants to occupy. There is noneed to spend forever debating whether Muay Thai should sell out by copying them,or remain in obscurity. Rather, Muay Thai needs an alternative approach that will be just as successful, maybe even more so, in a completely different space. The need for exceptional marketing is absolute – it’s just going to take a lot of creativity, and maybe even a little fantasy, to get there.

WKA - Helping build our future

The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) recently held the 2012 WKA North American Combat Sports Championships in Virginia. Grappling and MMA was part of the agenda, but of course what we are interested in was the Muay Thai and Kickboxing which is what the WKA is known for. In addition to regulating professional combat sports in a number of states in the Eastern US, it is with tournaments like the North American Combat Sports Championships that the WKA is helping mold the future of Muay Thai and Kickboxing in North America.

Amateur fighters from Canada, Mexico and the United States compete for top position/ ranking in different divisions and weight classes. Amateur Muay Thai and Kickboxing is fairly regional in North America. If you are on the west coast you mainly fight in California, Las Vegas and Arizona. If you live on the east coast then New York, Florida, New Jersey, Atlanta and Eastern Canada are the places you’ll likely find the chance to compete. Occasionally, top level amateurs are fortunate enough to find promoters willing to fly them from farther locations out because they are going to want their services as a professional. With that said how do you get to be a top amateur? A good showing at the WKA’s helps. With So many fighters from across North America participating, any amateur fighter looking to put his name on the map knows a win at the WKA’s is a huge stepping stone. The WKA’s have become an important part of the amateur Muay Thai and Kickboxing culture in North America.

The Jump V.2 - Five amateurs we want to see turn pro

There are many great amateur fighters in North America, many posses skills that are on par with what is needed to compete at the pro level. This is the second installment of "The Jump" in which we will highlight five fighters that we would love to see make the transition from the amateur to the pro circuit. In the second segment of "The Jump" we feature two female fighters, one from California and one from Atlanta, as well as fighters from Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Canada. If you would like to express your opinion on fighters you feel are ready for "The Jump" feel free to shoot us an e-mail to mailbag@MuayThaiAuthority.com.

Jason Caldwell (6-0)
Caldwell is a heavy hitter who fights out of Las Vegas, NV. Despite having only six sanctioned amateur fight under the tutelage of Mark Beecher, he now feels it is time to take his talents to the pro circuit. Muay Thai is his focus, however, he would like to get more amateur MMA fights in first because once you turn pro in one combat sport your considered a pro in all others here in the United States. In addition Caldwell has a wife and kid and providing for them is his first priority.

Since I have a wife and kid I want to be the best provider and father I can be" said Caldwell. "With the economy so bad, the money is tight. I haven't been as active as I'd like to be. I love the sport though and the competition has been deep in Vegas."

The Jump - Five amateurs we want to see turn pro

There are many great amateur fighters in North America, many posses skills that are on par with what is needed to compete at the pro level. We would like to introduce to you a segment we call "The Jump" in which we will highlight five fighters at a time that we feel are ready to make the transition from the amateur to the pro circuit. In the first segment of "The Jump" we feature two fighters based out of Los Angeles, two Canadian stand outs and one from New Jersey. If you would like to express your opinion on fighters you feel are ready for "The Jump" feel free to shoot us an e-mail to mailbag@MuayThaiAuthority.com.

David Huerta (12-1)
Huerta posses some of the best pure boxing you are likely to see in Muay Thai, but his all around game is very solid. Training out of Team Zarate in East Los Angeles under George Zarate, Huerta is constantly looking to improve his skills. The only blemish on his amateur sanctioned record came due to a freak accident his last fight against Mario Martinez, a bout which he was winning. Huerta has held of on the jump to the pro level despite feeling ready to contend with the American pro fighters in his weight class. When asked as to why he has held off he responded, "I want my trainer and manager to be happy with my performance and tell me it's time to make the move."

Pictures: Stand Up Promotions "Oblonsky vs. Krause" Amateur Fights

Aside from the action packed pro fights at Stand Up Promotions "Oblonsky vs. Krause" event there were some excellent amateur fights. Enjoy these photos by Scott Hirano of the amateur portion of Stand Up Promotions "Oblonsky vs. Krause".

Monthly "Road to WCK" series kicks of February 26th

On February 26th, WCK Muay Thai will kick off "Road to the WCK". It will be a monthly series featuring amateur Muay Thai and MMA bouts. The events will be under the guidance of WBC Muay Thai.

“We see an acute need to bring new generation of fighters into Muay Thai in the United States, to give them the opportunity to develop their skills from the ground up in a safe environment, so that, eventually, they can have a smooth transition into the professional arena.  I believe, it will be this generation, that will take Muay Thai to the next level in the US and internationally,” stated WCK Muay Thai promoter Dennis Warner.  “We will be working closely with WBC MuayThai to ensure the highest level of safety