A KICK OF SANZO
How did you go from growing up in Houston to being a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand?
After spending a lot of time in the music industry, I decided to go back to my passion for sports. I tried out for a professional soccer team in Houston and got offered a deal that they were going to sell me to a team in six months, but I was looking for more. I’m pretty restless by nature. If I don’t have something to keep me busy and constantly improve, I get antsy. So somebody mentioned that I should try Muay Thai. I had my first class, and then that was it. I was hooked. I started training everyday. Two months in, I had my first unsanctioned fight, got even more hooked and decided to come here.
What about Muay Thai was “it” for you?
It’s the constant improvement of self. It’s an art form. The actual sport in my eyes is like a violent chess match. To be good, you have to focus on every aspect of the art. You can’t just be one-sided, as a lot of people tend to be, especially foreigners. It’s a constant growth process. There’s always something you can work on.
How’d you end up settling at Petchyindee and what’s it like training there?
When I initially moved out here, I was at a different gym and at a lower level. I was still considered good for someone who had only been training for a little over a year, but I wasn’t at the level I needed to be. So I decided to change things up and try out Petchyindee for six months — it’s the best gym in the world. You’re talking legendary promoters, legendary fighters, legendary trainers. If you’re even somewhat interested in the sport and know even a little bit about its origins and history and you don’t know about Petchyindee, you’re not on the right page.
Give us a picture of how much you train. I wake up and run 7-10km. Then I train for another hour or hour and a half. So that’s already two-three hours of training in the morning. Then I eat, nap, wake up and do it again. Evening sessions are a bit more intense. I don’t run first, I just go right into training. Then there are running, plyometrics or weight training after. So typically, it’s about six hours a day, Monday to Saturday. Sundays are off.
What was your worst fight? It was a fight at Lumpini Stadium. I had cut the right amount of weight for it, but when I showed up on the day of the match, they said I had an opponent change and I had to lose two more kilos. So I ran around the stadium for an hour in a sweatsuit and lost two kilos. Because at Lumpini, it’s sameday weigh-ins — you only have that day to adjust if you need to. So come fight time, I had zero energy. When you lose weight like that, the water between your brain and skull gets depleted. Knockouts happen when your brain rocks against the side of your skull. So, in the first round, I got hit with a hook that put me down for an eight count. I fought the rest of the fight seeing stars. It was terrible.
Best fight or proudest moment in your fighting career?
I’ve had some cool knockouts, but I’m not really proud of my career yet. I’ve only been fighting for three and a half years. There’s still a lot for me to do, but now I’m in a position to make those things happen. I won’t say I’m proud until I’m fighting the best people at my weight and winning. Pride kills!
Muay Thai obviously takes up a big chunk of your daily life. What do you do outside of kicking and punching?
I enjoy going out with my friends. In terms of personal projects, my band from back home just re-kickstarted. The writing process has been a little hard with me being on the other side of the world, but what I’m able to do is to get tracks and give my input. Meanwhile, I also work for a music festival called Day for Night. I’m in the process of helping them expand outside of the US. I want to bring it here. I’m also a personal trainer, looking to start my fitness company soon, and I’m going to start a clothing line.
Oh! What kind of clothing line? It’s going to be a graphic line, like graphic tees, as well as more high street fashion stuff.
So you’re into fashion as well? Yeah, absolutely! Being in a band, merchandising was something I had a knack for. I’ve always had a feel and desire for A) looking good and B) seeing what other people are about and trying to produce something that they’d be into.
Okay, the final and most important question: what is your ultimate cheat meal?
Well, I’m Italian, so either a huge pizza with everything on it — meat, veggies, everything! — or a lasagne. I love lasagne.