TWO young fighters from Mandurah’s True Grit Muay Thai boxing gym jetted off to Thailand this week with their trainer for an intensive training camp.
Saskie Vaughan (16) and Shannon Gardiner (13) will join 12 other young Western Australian fighters in Chalong, Thaliand where they will train two times a day at the Dragon Muay Thai gym with some of the best Muay Thai fighters.
The pair will also get to watch their coach and current Western Australia Light Flyweight Muay Thai title holder Chantel Jones fight for the final time in Thailand at Bangalore Stadium.
Vaughan and Gardiner both said they couldn’t wait to get into it.
“I can’t wait to experience what it’s like to train with the Thai fighters,” Vaughan said.
The pair are both using the training as preparation for the next junior fight show in WA.
Vaughan has been fighting for 18 months and has already impressed with four wins from four fights.
“I used to do martial arts but wanted to try a different thing so gave Muay Thai a go,” she said.
“I love it; we used to fight in karate but it’s totally different.”
Gardiner will be looking to even the ledger in her next fight with one win, two-loss record.
Jones said the Thailand trip was a great opportunity for the young fighters to learn new techniques.
“It’s completely different over there,” the 38-year-old said.
“It’s going to be really hot so it will take them awhile to get use to that.”
Jones, who has fought in Thailand twice before, said it would be her last time fighting in the country as she looks to retire at the end of the year.
“I’m not sure who I’m fighting yet,” she said.
“[The last time I fought in Thailand] it was my hardest fight.
“They don’t do weigh-ins there so you can expect to fight someone heavier than you; last time she was probably 10 kilograms heavier.”
Jones said the fight would help her prepares for the WMC State Title fight against Caitlyn Vance in October.
Mandurah will host its second Junior Fight Show on September 5.
