Yarrawonga kickboxer Blade Gilbertson carried out his coach’s instructions to the letter in Melbourne on Saturday, October 4 and claimed the vacant WMC (World Muay Thai Council) Victorian State Title for 58-61kgs weight division.
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Gilbertson clearly outpointed Geelong’s Isaac Tomlinson in a five, two-minute rounds to receive the unanimous points decision from the three judges.
It was the 10th and first of the five main events on the 15 match program at Doncaster Shoppingtown Hotel watched by some 700 fight fans.
Gilbertson would have lost the first round according to his coach Nick Davis but knew at the end of that opening round Tomlinson was in strife.
“Blade was the more aggressive fighter of the two,” Davis told the Yarrawonga Chronicle. “We had a game plan – we had watched a lot of video of his style.
“The game plan was to chop at his legs and at the end of the first round his legs started to wince and I knew we had him.
“Blade got better every round after that and continued the forward pressure and built his skills set.”
It was an elated coach after the bout. “I threw him on my shoulders and walked around the ring with him! It was the highlight of my career as a trainer and coach,” Davis said.
It was also an ecstatic winning Muay Thai kickboxer. “It was awesome. I’ve been training so long and pride myself on fitness,” the 19-year-old first year apprentice plasterer said.
“I’m a diabetic and I punish myself with training so hard. I’m glad I do it. The harder I train the better I go. The running’s good. We just want to put up a good fight and I try my best to put diabetics at the back of my mind.”
The new state champion thinks so highly of his coach whom he credits for his success. Gilbertson also acknowledges ‘Wazza’ for his help with kickboxing.
“It’s a real team effort to get this (state title) – coaching, training, nutritional food, all that – and the hard work brings rewards,” he said.
“I also thank Lekeal Builders for my apprenticeship which I’m enjoying.”
WBC Muaythai is commissioned under the jurisdiction of the World Boxing Council as a non-profit organization to regulate, control and supervise professional Muay Thai events worldwide.
“My main goal at the end of the day is a world title. For now it’s just to keep fighting, to keep getting my name out there and to keep enjoying it,” Gilbertson said.
Nick has been coaching Blade for about 18 months. Both coach and kickboxer are looking forward to their next bout, on November 30, at St Kilda Town Hall.
The local Muay Thai Gym is located in the Yarrawonga Rowing Club. Newcomers would be made welcome.
“If any families are struggling, come along. We can work out a program,” Nick said.
Classes, on Wednesdays, are 5.00pm to 5.45pm for primary school children and from 6.00pm to 7.00pm for adults.
