JORDAN WATSON VS AIKPRACHA
Jordan Watson loses epic battle against Aikpracha in Bangkok.
Alas, 0-4 for Jordan Watson in fights against Thai superstars; with four entertaining and close scraps with Yodsaenklai Fairtex, Buakaw, Saiyok and now Aikpracha.
He made it exciting, but it wasn’t to be. But as his fellow Leeds, England Muay Thai star and best pal Liam Harrison put it – he himself coming out with a loss to the legendary Saenchai – “wins and losses don’t matter in a fight like that”.
The Pinto family may disagree, but I and plenty of others do not. It was a tremendous effort and a great scrap, between the game “Quadzilla” and Aikpracha who Liam referred to as “the strongest Thai I’ve ever seen”. Given that he himself has fought a laundry list of 61-65kg elite Thais, beating the likes of Nampon, Anuwat and Sarmsamut and dropping close bouts to Sagetdao and Saenchai (3x), and that Jordan has come up against Yodsaenklai, Buakaw and Saiyok, and beat Antoine Pinto, that is some signifcant praise from Harrison for Aikpracha.
Being neutral and professional, I will not mention the blatant cheating at the weigh ins, with a 2kg or over Aikpracha eventually standing briefly on the scales with one foot, resting his other off the pressure point that checks weight.
Still, he was my “One To Watch” for 2012, and has duly been the breakout star of the year, with a WMC title, victory at the WMC Prince’s Cup tournament, a fine win over Fabio Pinca and finally overcoming Watson in a thrilling war at the Voice Space TV Studio in Rangsit, Bangkok.
Aikpracha cut Jordan after landing elbows and a big knee in the second, and pressed home his advantage in the third, managing to trip and dump the Leeds man several times. Round four Jordan flurried and got the better of some of the exchanges, trying to draw Aikpracha into the trenches. Aik, to his credit, showed his trademark willingness to be aggressive, and he duly obliged. The round was close, but another sweep and some good knees landed from the Thai arguably bested the excellent right body kick Jordan planted on Aikpracha several times, landing sweetly.
Round five, Jordan kept pressing forwards but was visibly tired by the strength of his opponent, who threw him to the canvas a couple more times. Jordan looked to land a nice right elbow, and launched some punch flurries, but it wasn’t to be, and Aikpracha took home the new WPMF sanctioned “World Fighter Spirit world title” at 71kg – ironically enough, at a weight he didn’t come close to. But que sera, sera…
Arguably the highlight of the night was watching Harrison’s face during the “show”; a bunch of Thai people dressed up pretending to sword fight – at length. “Thank fuck that’s over…” (more ‘dancers’ appear from the other side of the stage) “oh FUCK off….”
He had a point though. They didn’t have a point. No athletics, nothing done faster than at snails pace. Ah well. As they say on the Thai Visa forums; T-I-T.
Stephen “La Flama Blanca” Meleady was there too; he’s next in action at the Lumpinee against a Japanese opponent. As for Liam’s next scrap; to be announced…
19/12/12
THE SCENE
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