MANDURAH’S Chantel Jones defeated Bangkok’s Namuanghchan to claim the State Light Flyweight Muay Thai Title at the Thunderdome IX Metro City, Perth on the weekend.
The win eased the disappointment of October’s split-point state title loss to Michelle Seivers for 38-year-old Jones.
“I’m on an absolute high, it’s been a long time coming,” she said.
“It’s pretty good at my age.”
The fight went the distance but Jones was clearly the winning after the five, two-minute rounds.
“It went really well across the five rounds,” Jones said.
“Round one was close but after that I got on top and dominated the whole way through.
“In the third round I saw her looking over to her trainer.”
Jones had an unusual lead up to the fight after a rematch with Seivers just over two weeks ago was cancelled after her opponent failed her medical at weigh in.
The match-up with Namuanghchan was arranged at short notice with Jones left in the dark about how the Thai competitor except – like Sievers – was a southpaw.
“I had no idea how she would fight heading into the fight,” she said
Namuanghchan, a professional boxer with over 60 fights, had 15 Muay Thai fights to her name, winning five times on knock out compared to Jones who was fighting in just her eighth.
“I sat back early to see what she could do and then countered,” she said.
Jones said the crowd was behind for the fight, driving her the entire way.
“The crowd was massive; it was the first time they had a Muay Thai fight at the Thunderdome,” she said.
“The crowd were very loud; it really helped to push you.
She said her kids were excited and proud of her achievement.
Now a title holder, Jones looks set for a big 2015.
“If there is someone who wants to fight me for my title next year I will defend it,” she said.
Jones said she hoped to fight Michelle Seivers again, this time looking for a different result.
The True Grit Thai Boxing Club owner said she would now take some time off before hitting taring hard in the new year..
