The Queenstown Hurto Gym members — competing against fighters from Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Russia and Serbia — also had 15 fights for 13 wins, which head coach Rob Horrocks is stoked about.
Rishon Harris, who beat a Serbian woman over five rounds, and Jake Trafford, who scored a second-round knock-out, won prestigious Patong Stadium titles at their weights, and Horrocks earned a Bangla Stadium title at his weight.
Drew Bishop, who stayed longer in Thailand, won all four of his fights.
Milo Skipper, who turned 17 over there, fought an adult Indonesian, Horrocks says.
"He [Milo] dropped him twice with knees and then finished him — unreal, man.
Corban Woodward, in the last round of an even battle against an Uzbekistan fighter, "head-kicked him basically and knocked him out".
The gym’s other winners were Fehn Cox, coach Julia Vassalos, Otis Clarbrough, Kane Matenga and Ebonie Stevens.
"The goal is to be an international-level fight team, so getting more opportunities for them to compete and train with people who are already competing at that international professional level," Horrocks says.
He’s also trying to line up NZ title fights for team members.
He adds the Thailand trip, where it was "hot as hell" in the gym, also enabled his fighters to "massively open up their minds to what’s possible with Muay Thai".
