Braddock set for European title bid from Varley’s gym
LOCAL Muay Thai fighter Casey Braddock will return to the ring to fight for the European heavyweight title on a busy bill in Birmingham on Saturday, May 25.
Unbeaten Braddock’s fight against Londoner Nathan Cook is the main event on the Elite Muay Thai Championship bill.
Braddock is one of a string of fighters in action on the night from renowned local trainer Sai Varley’s Studio 2000 Thai boxing gym in the Castle Ward area of the city.
Braddock, from Horsley, has 13 straight wins from 13 fights, while Cook has eight wins from 10 fights.
Both weigh in at over 100kg and stand well over six feet, so it promises to be an explosive contest.
It will be Braddock’s first fight in two years, after he took time out to nurse his terminally ill mother, who sadly succumbed to cancer just before Christmas.
He has dedicated this fight to her memory and is donating his purse money to a cancer charity.
There promises to be some atmosphere, as he has sold 13 ringside tables at £800 a table.
The title fight is over five threeminute rounds, contested under full Muay Thai rules, which allow kicks, punches, knees and elbows to the head.
The first Varley fighter among the seniors in action on the bill will be 18-year-old Karam Toor, from Mickleover, who will be fighting Ben Wallis, from Birmingham.
Toor has been training with Varley since 11, is undefeated and has just returned from a training camp in Thailand where he fought and won his first fight abroad, stopping his Thai opponent in the second round with a head kick knockout.
Next up will be 18-year-old Markus Smirnovs, from Sinfin, another of Varley’s junior champions, who will be fighting in his first head contact fight as an adult against a strong lad from London.
Smirnovs has been out of the ring for a few years owing to Covid and is eager to get back into action.
George Stone (21) and his brother Ben (18), from Findern, will appear ahead of the main fights in first-time novice action.
Also on the bill, making their first appearance for Varley, are two more 18-year-olds, Luke Moreland and TJ Zuza.
“It’s going to be a busy day and night but I have massive confidence in all my lads and believe they will do me proud and bring home the wins to Derby,” said Varley.
Standard tickets at £35 are still available.