Who will be the Queen of Mean?

All-female night marks anniversary for coach

Women’s sport is arguably enjoying its highest ever profile. But Red Dragon Thai boxing coach Brent Maharey isn’t cashing in by holding an all-female fight night in Te Puke at the weekend — he’s marking an anniversary.

A decade ago he held a similar, all female event in Mount Maunganui.

Since then Te Puke Memorial Hall has become a home from home for Brent for his Ironshin kick boxing nights — although all the shows since 2012 have featured male and female fighters.

This weekend’s show is called Queen of Mean Female Fight League.

“The reason I did this [an all-female event] was because a memory came up on my Facebook saying it was 10 years ago and I thought ‘okay, wow — maybe I should do one to mark the 10th anniversary,” he says.

“The really cool thing is, a girl that I used to train back then was in that show and she won the main event in 2012 and she is in the main event for this show as well.”

Wendy Talbot now fights out of the City Kickboxing Gym in Auckland.

“That’s where Israel Adesanya and all those UFC guys train.”

She will be fighting Michaela Jenkins from the South Island’s South Island Lee Gar gym.

The build up will see fights featuring a range of skill and experience levels.

Among the locals featured will be mother and daughter Faith Mcmah and Rangimarie Twaddle as well as Larise Nield and Sash Turfrey who all train at Pa¯pa¯moa’s Evolution Gym.

Brent says the profile of UFC is probably behind the increased interest in kick boxing.

“It’s probably [because of] the women on the world stage — more so the UFC. Kick boxing, Thai boxing and Muay Thai don’t really get that international exposure like the UFC is at the moment — obviously that’s the main thing that you can see on television.

Wendy Talbot (left) and Michaela Jenkins will face off in the main event at the Queen of Mean fight night on Saturday.

“There’s been a lot of female champions coming through there and that might motivate some of these girls that are a bit younger. Some of the fighters have started with kick boxing and move more into the MMA side but using kick boxing as a base, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the younger ones [at Saturday’s event] end up doing that one day.”

One person missing from Saturday’s event will be Te Puke’s age group Muay Thai world champion Emma Diprose.

“She’s fighting in August in Wellington and since she got back from

There’s been a lot of female champions coming through there and that might motivate some of these girls that are a bit younger. Brent Maharey, Red Dragon Thai boxing coach

the world championships we’ve given her a bit of a break.”

Brent says there will be no shortage of action on Saturday evening.

“I love watching female fights because in a way they are more exciting. I don’t know why — they seem to be committed more to it right from the start — they just try harder where the guys seem to take a while to warm up.”

He says he hopes the event will attract female spectators who might then become interested in getting involved to grow the sport. “It’s going to be exciting — every fight night is and just because it’s all female doesn’t mean it’s not going to be and there’s always that something extra from seeing it live.”

Queen of Mean Female Fight League is at Te Puke Memorial Hall on Saturday. Doors open at 6pm with the first fight at 7pm. Advance tickets are $40 and on the door, $50. Advance tickets are available through Headrush Promotions Facebook page or at Pro Supplements, Fashion Island.