O’Flynn kicks way to Thai boxing title

IRELAND’S Craig O’Flynn further enhanced his claim to be the best Muay Thai boxer outside its spiritual home when he knocked out Thailand’s national champion in a world title unification bout in Cork on Saturday night.

The Cobh fighter, 29, delivered a decisive kick to the head of Thailand’s Kongdej Sittradtrakan early in the third round of their five-round, 61.5kg fight at the Neptune Stadium to add the WMTO title to the WKN belt won from another Thai in Belfast in April 2002.

It capped a remarkable evening for the sport on Irish soil, which saw a crowd estimated by the organisers at 1,500 entertained by five other international fights featuring four top Irish fighters, three support bouts including a female class and junior boy’s contest and a demonstration of ancient sword-fighting by two of the highest grade instructors outside Thailand.