‘Chopsticks’ sets 2019 on right path
MUAY THAI CAIRNS fighter Matthew “Chopsticks” Smith will see how far he can go in 2019 after claiming a big win at the Path to Elite fight night on Saturday.
In front a hometown crowd full of family and friends at the Cairns Colonial Club, “Choppy” took out the main event over South Australian fighter and former World Kickboxing Association Australian intercontinental super middleweight champion Thomas “The Tank Engine” Wilkins.
Sporting his trademark lackadaisical stance and using clever feints throughout, Choppy lured Wilkins to the inside early on.
He was patient with his strikes, landing push kicks and one-two combinations at will late in the first round.
In the second round, an almost-perfect straight elbow had Wilkins wincing in pain and sporting a nasty cut above his left eye.
The contest was stopped momentarily in the third round as Choppy was so focused on handing out a beating he had forgotten his mouthguard.
But the Nuzku Muay Thai fighter soon began to dominate proceedings.
With Wilkins reeling on the ropes, Choppy landed a perfectly timed jab-cross combo and followed it up with a jumping knee to the solar plexus.
The devastating body blow sounded a brutal thud heard Path to Elite’s 10-fight card had to be reduced to eight after wild weather and road closes forced the late withdrawal of Townsville’s Taipan Combat Ring Sports fight team. “We wish Mick Parker and his boys all the best and we will endeavour to match the same fights for our May event,” said Explosive Fight Promotion’s Corey Elgers Larkin. “We also hope that Oceanic Martial Arts Academy are also safe and sound as Brooke Mitchell wasn’t able to make it up.” throughout the Colonial Club’s function room and was enough to end the fight, with Wilkins unable to continue.
Cairns fighter Brian Ross made his return to the ring in the night’s semi-main event, although he didn’t get the result he was after, going down to Bernard Temu via TKO.
“Props to Bernard for the win – we knew this was going to be a battle that ended in stitches or a KO,” said Ross.
“I was a little bit rusty after being away for a couple years, but onwards we go.” Watch the explosive videos from the fight night at www.cairnspost.com.au