Canadian Simon Marcus beat world champion aspirant Joe Schilling of the US recently with a stunning first round TKO in Las Vegas that confirmed his credentials as the first in line to challenge the great Russian champion Artem Levin for the world Muay Thai light-heavyweight title.
Simon Marcus.
After the fight, Schilling sensationally claimed he had been illegally tripped and that his head had been unfairly knocked down hard when backed onto the canvas.
A formal protest lodged by Schilling's handlers to the Nevada Athletic Commission, the US state authority that officiated the contest, is expected to be dismissed in support of the decision by the ring referee who determined that the fall down in the grapple was fair.
Ironically, it was Schilling who was pushing back Marcus with strength in the early stage of the contest at the "Battle in the Desert 5" in Las Vegas.
After the fight, Marcus defended his grapple technique saying he had taken a step beside, and not directly behind, Schilling's foot and tossed Schilling over his knee.
He said the grapple manouever was a legal move "used frequently in Muay Thai."
Marcus said he would oblige Schilling with a rematch as he sets his eyes to fighting Artem Levin for the green belt WBC light-heavyweight title at a mega seven world championship event at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, on June 9.
Event organisers, former deputy prime minister Suwat Liptapanlop and BEC Tero director Brian Macar, stated in a press release that the event would make history in setting a record number of WBC Muay Thai world championships in the same event.
The "Battle for the Belts" will feature top Thai champions Jomthong Chuwattana (lightweight), Saenchai Sor Kingstar (diamond belt champion super-lightweight) and Thai Fight superstar Kem Sitpongseenong (super-welterweight).
A Thai all-star world championship will feature the showdown between Big Ben Chor Praram and Sittichai Sitsongpeenong while Levin will, of course, face Marcus.
Australian super-cruiserweight champion Steve McKinnon will fight Bangkok-based Russian Ramazan Ramazonov.
Spanish world champion Alegandro Asum Osa will fight Kem for the super-welterweight title.
And heavyweight world champion Cristian Bosch (Argentina) will be challenged by Brazil/Japan star Fabiano Cyclone.
MMA IN BANGKOK
MMA is back in Bangkok on March 17.
DARE promotions will stage its fourth event at Club Insomnia.
The main event in the all rules stand-up and go-down strike and submission combat will feature Mark Striegl and "Mad Dog" Marko Huusansaari who returns to octagon cage after losing to Shane Wiggand.
This will be his second and final shot of staying in the lightweight tournament. This time Huusansaari faces Striegl _ one of the rising stars of Asian MMA _ who is 10 years younger.
The winner will proceed to the quarter-finals and one step close to joining the final group that will share a US$1 million grand bonus.
Striegl (7-0) has fought in MMA events in several Asian counties while Huusansaari (3-3) has won the top MMA promotions in China and the Philippines, and had a professional Muay Thai fight at Lumpinee stadium.