Kickboxing: Pair shape up for world champs

Kyle Gallacher and Lou Fuller, who are off to the World Championships in Malaysia, train at Wanganui Martial Arts centre. Photo/Stuart Munro

Formidable Wanganui kickboxer Kyle Gallacher will be drawing on his ample confidence and rigorous training regime when he tackles the IFMA Muay Thai World Championships on Langkawi Island in Malaysia next month.

Gallacher will join fellow Wanganui Assassins Guild member Lou Fuller at the worlds which run from May 1-10.

They train out of the Wanganui Martial Arts Centre gym in Wickstead St where Gallacher is a fighter/coach.

Gallacher's lanky 2.032-metre (6ft 8in) frame will not lack fitness, but he is carrying a knee injury that forced him out of his hometown River City Rumble mixed martial arts event at the weekend.

"I strained a knee ligament in training about eight weeks ago and I pulled out of the Rumble rather than cause further damage ahead of the worlds next month - I didn't want to aggravate it," Gallacher said yesterday.

"My knee's not fully healed yet, so I have it heavily strapped during training. It's a shame really, I won't be able to fight to my full potential. I may not be not firing on all cylinders, but I have a huge amount of confidence in my abilities and I'm nearing peak fitness."

Gallacher, who works as a security guard for Armourguard in Wanganui, will compete in the cruiser under-86kg A class weight division in Malaysia. The world competition is a strict last- man-standing knockout event with one bout planned each day until a loss spells the end of the road.

"This is definitely a leap in class for me. At the moment, I only hold a New Zealand amateur title, but I'm confident I'm up to this new level. I weigh 89kg at the moment, but with a strict diet, training and the heat in Malaysia I should get down to under 86kg quite easily," Gallacher said.

The competition will be tough in Malaysia with the top 100 fighters from each country competing - it is the Olympics for Muay Thai fighters.

Safely through the World championships, Gallacher will travel to Australia two weeks later for a Pro WMC (World Muay Thai Council) Oceania title fight against former world champion and ex-pat Kiwi Charles August, who is now domiciled across the Tasman.

"I've never seen him fight, but he's a tough guy and has been around for a while. He may be carrying a bit of age, but ring craft is a valuable thing in this sport.

"I'm really looking forward to both competitions," Gallacher said.

By contrast, Fuller is tiny, barely scratching the 1.5m mark (5ft 2in) and will fight in the under-45kg women's grade.

The English-born fighter, currently a furniture-making tutor with the YMCA, is heading to Malaysia knowing full well she will be the underdog after gaining automatic entry to represent New Zealand.

"You have to be the best in your weight division in the country to gain selection, but there was nobody in my weight division at the nationals, so I got in automatically," Fuller said.

"I know I'll definitely be an underdog at the worlds, but I'm really looking forward to it. I have changed my whole life to be there."

While some travelling funds were raised when the hat went round at the Rumble on Saturday night, the pair are still in need of support. Any generous donors willing to support the two Wanganui fighters can contact the Wanganui Martial Arts Centre, 159 Wickstead St, or email lou@ymca.org.nz