Steve Wakeling reclaims his crown

Scorpions fighter and trainer Steve Wakeling wins WBC world title in his comeback fight in Thailand

“Fans flew in from all corners of the globe… and he didn’t let them down.”

After a two-year hiatus from both training and fighting in Muay Thai, Steve Wakeling has returned to truly reclaim his crown as one of the kings of world Muay Thai, and it was no simple feat as he was set to face a strong competitor and champion in the sport – WBC world champion Jaowchalam Chatjanokgym.

Jaowchalam is a huge name both in his home country of Thailand and the rest of the community for good reason, having held the title at supermiddleweight for 5 years; being successful in every defence.

Just three weeks before Steve’s clash with Jaowchalam, he was able to shake any signs of ring rust from his two-year break in the world-famous Lumpini Stadium, although his victorious and devastating stoppage on the night proved that there was no ring rust in sight. Prior to this, Steve last entered the ring in November 2008 against Cedric Muller in London’s York Hall, where Steve found victory in a five-round schooling of the French champion.

On the 8^th January 2011, the pressure was on for Steve, whose highly anticipated fight in Pattaya was the talk of the Thai boxing town. Fans flew in from all corners of the globe to watch the master return to the top… and he didn’t let them down.

With the knowledge and coaching of both his father Mark and Sitsongpeenong Gym in his corner, Steve was ready for one of the most crucial fights of his career so far, and the explosiveness and skill of the fighter in the opposite corner proved that it was not going to be easy.

True Thai style oozed from both fighters, and as the two exchanged an array of forceful blows, the crowd watched in awe. However, the pivotal point of the fight came in the second round when Steve landed the sharp, fast elbows that he was known for. As his confidence shot sky-high, the crowd could see that the Thai was hurt, and like a true Muay Thai boxer, Steve capitalised on the opportunity and unleashed the dangerous knees that he had put on display in his fight at Lumpini just weeks before.

Jaowchalam took an eight-count and came back like a warrior, but Steve’s knees continued to land with perfection, proving to be too much as the fight was brought to an abrupt end in the fourth round with a final decisive knee to the body that finished his opponent. Steve

ns fighter and trainer Steve Wakeling wins WBC world title in his comeback fight in Thailand was crowned the new WBC supermiddleweight-champion of the world.

Walking away with the new championship declared Steve a two-time WBC world title holder (the first being won against the legendary John Wayne Parr of Australia) and an eight-time world title holder across various Muay Thai organisations.