FINNISH NATIONAL MUAYTHAI CHAMPIONSHIPS 11th DECEMBER, 2000, URHEILUTALO, HELSINKI

This report was written and supplied by Riku Immonen

It was a full house last night when the Finnish National Muay Thai- Thaiboxing Championships were held in Helsinki´s Urheilutalo in seven weight categories. There were two amateur World Champions participating and their fights were, as expected, among the highlights of the evening. Nevertheless, a lot of exciting fights were witnessed and headstrong fighters proved their worth in every match.

In the first fight in - 75 kilos Teppo Valtonen and Marko Laakkonen were seemingly evenly matched. The first three rounds of the five-rounder were calmish, but the last two rounds proved that Helsinki´s Valtonen was the stronger fighter taking points in various situations.

In - 67 kilos Pori´s Tomi Karttunen and Porvoo´s Ari Pitkänen met. The match was extremely technical but also very exciting. The very physical Ari Pitkänen won, proving to be a more skilled fighter than Karttunen.

The third fight of the evening matched Topi Helin of Turku and Teppo Laine of Lappeenranta. The left-handed Laine could not find a remedy for the right-handed Helin´s strong back kicks. Helin came up trumps time and time again and finally won hands down after a convincing show of clinching.

In the under - 86 kilos Johannes Jokioinen of Joensuu met Porvoo´s Anton Lindborg. The less experienced Jokioinen could not penetrate Lindborg´s guard and Lindborg used his experience to the best advantage in his attacks. A brilliant show of punches and low kicks took the wind out of Jokioinen completely. The Finnish Championship title went to Porvoo with the result 3 - 0.

Perhaps the most exciting match of the evening was seen when Turku´s Samuli Lindström met Rovaniemi´s Mika Rauhala. After the first two rounds the skilled Lindström seemed to be in the lead, even though the points at this stage were seemingly even. Towards the end of the fight Rauhala put on the pressure and gained results. Lindström often backed into the sides of the ring and this couldn´t have been a better chance for Rauhala to hit back hard. In the last round the audience were treated to a convincing display of spirit as both fighters were tired but had to keep the show going and work hard. In the end the judges ruled Mika Rauhala the winner with a 3-0 victory.

Mika Pietilä of Porvoo was the first Amateur World Champion of the evening to be seen in the ring. The very experinenced fighter was matched with the "green" Matias Kallio of Helsinki. The five-rounder was almost too easy for Pietilä, and he certainly let Kallio have a taste of the qualities that make a true champion. Kallio persevered but lost to Pietilä with the judges´ decision 3 - 0.

The Amateur World Champion 2000 Petri Martinez was first honoured with the title of Thaiboxer of the Year and next he won the Finnish Championship title. It was not an easy win, however, as Jarno Marila from Pori would not sell his soul easily. Martinez started the first two rounds in his usual quiet manner but started to put the pressure on in the third. Nevertheless, Marila would not give in to Martinez´s attacks and struck back hard in every possible situation. Marila turned out to be such a good match for Martinez that the judges ruled Martinez winner with a split 2 - 1 decision, unsuprisingly leaving the Amateur World Champion disappointed in the fight.

In all, the fights once again proved the high level of Finnish Thaiboxing and thus brought the year 2000 and its array of Thaiboxing matches to a successful end.

Results:

-75kg Teppo Valtonen, Helsinki Thaiboxing Club vs Marko Laakkonen, Joensuu Muay Thai Club 3 - 0
-67kg Tomi Karttunen, Pori Thaiboxing Club vs Ari Pitkänen, Porvoo Thaiboxing Club 0 - 3
-81kg Teppo
Laine, Lappeenrannan Kickboxing Club vs Topi Helin, Turku Thaiboxing Club 0 - 3
-86kg Johannes Jokinen, Joensuu Muay Thai Club vs Anton Lindborg, Porvoo Thaiboxing Club 0 - 3
-60kg Mika Rauhala, Rovaniemi Muay Thai vs Samuli Lindström, Turku Thaiboxing Club 3 - 0
-63kg Mika Pietilä, Porvoo Thaiboxing Club vs Matias Kallio,
Helsinki Thaiboxing Club 3 - 0
-71kg Petri Martinez, Helsinki Thaiboxing Club vs Jarno Marila, Pori Thaiboxing Club 2 - 1



For Muay Thai Association of Finland

Riku Immonen
International Co-ordinator
Muay Thai Association of Finland
riku.immonen@muaythai.fi
http://www.muaythai.fi
Contact info

President of Muay Thai Association of Finland
Marco Nieminen
marco.nieminen@muaythai.fi
Tel. + 358 40 535 5773
Fax + 358 9 774 1930

Honor President of Muay Thai Association of Finland
Kai Mustonen
kai.mustonen@muaythai.fi

Member of Honor
Janne Mustonen
janne.mustonen@muaythai.fi

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Muay Thai Association of Finland
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00120 Helsinki