The Science of 8 Limbs

By Mike LNg

Steven Wakeling

After a dominant win over Joachalam Chatkranokgym Steven Wakeling’s last promoter Bernard Caplin of The Champion’s Club (TCC) is apparently busily seeking out new fights for the newly crowned WBC Muay Thai super middleweight champion.  Despite being gone from Muay Thai competition for almost 3 years Wakeling was in fine form against Jaochalam and won his championship via stoppage against Jaochalam coming from knee strikes.

Bernard Caplin had some statements that were fairly bold about Wakeling’s prospective opponents:

“You know, after Steve´s huge win on TCC 6 in Pattaya, its not that easy to find opponents or put together an international show!”

“Steve was so dominating in his comeback fight that even after a 2 year break, he still performed at world level, sharp as ever, controlling a top Thai opponent fighting up in weight. I really think there are only a handful of Muaythai fighters on this planet that can handle Steve.”

“Of course, Contender Asia star Yodsanklai Fairtex comes first to mind, also Artem Levin, Brazilian star Cosmo Alexandre or Czech Number 1 and WFCA World Champion Jiri Zak. Then it thins out fast.”

“If Yodsanklai Fairtex is interested, London has many great venues, a big Muaythai audience and is my old hometown! What a fight to promote if The Champions Club comes to the UK! We will see how things develop over the next few months, but if these guys are up for it, they just have to call me to start talking.”

“Artem Levin has just beaten Kaoklai for the WBC Muaythai Light Heavyweight belt, also another great option if Steve steps up in weight yet again. Wakeling vs Levin in Pattaya next January… now thats a fight!

Jiri Zak in the Czech capital, Prague, another great fight for the fans, again for Steve an interesting option if he steps upweight again. But at Supermiddleweight I don’t really see any big fights out there right now, maybe Eugene Ekelboom from Australia, or Shakuta if he can fight super middleweight. But thats about it.”

The Yodsanklai speculation is especially interesting since Yodsanklai in his last outing at the King’s Cup Tournament 2010 in Thailand and against Artem Levin in the International Federation Muay Thai Amateur final looked soft compared to his usual fighting condition. In the King’s Cup Tournament its even been reported that Yodsanklai needed additional time to cut 3 kg in excess weight. Yodsanklai could conceivably meet Wakeling in a fight as big as 75 kg. It does seem that Caplin at least seems determined to steer Steven Wakeling into the light heavyweight limits instead of remain fighting at super middleweight. Only time will tell but it would certainly be a significant notch on Wakeling’s already impressive resume with a potential 3rd championship to be earned in a 3rd weight class.

~ by fatsoking on March 10, 2011.

Posted in Commentary
Tags: Muay Thai, Steven Wakeling, The Champions Club, UK, Yodsanklai Fairtex