A Very Special Message for Mick and Trix

Well what a year, our anniversary and probably the best year we have ever had. The fighters have been absolutely amazing and its been a fantastic privilege for me to be in the corner with Mick and Trix to witness so many wicker camp victories. How many champions have we got now?, that many I have lost count a long time ago (something to do with getting smacked in the head a lot lol) having so many champions and good fighters that keep winning to me means only one thing that Mick Mullaney is without doubt the No.1 Thai boxing trainer in the country and has been for a good few years now (round about 30 to be precise) but as they say behind every good Thai boxing trainer is a bloody good female Thai boxing trainer and Trix March fits that bill superbly having trained thousands and thousands of juniors to the very highest standard in the world and many of them have gone on to be adult champions i.e. Imran Khan, Chilli, Thomas and of course many junior champions too.

Not only are they fantastic trainers, but they are also fantastic friends to anyone who pops there head round the door and joins the wicker camp. I’m sure you will agree with me when you join wicker camp you join a very special family the atmosphere and friendliness down at the gym is second to nowhere else. I have been there for a lot of years now and Mick and Trix have done so much for me and hundreds of other students way above and beyond just being instructors, it's awesome. So I guess what I’m trying to say is Mick and Trix I love and respect you and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the last 30 years of wicker camp and look forward to the next 30. Wow we are going to have some amazing champions to come.

If like me you are proud and humble to be a member of the very best Thai boxing club in the world please take this opportunity to leave a few words to two of the best people I know .Also i would like to to say thanks to all the instructors that also do loads for the gym cheers love you all; West, Dan, Lee ,Daz ,Helene, Ali ,Sam ,Imran, Paul

lots of love mick trix n roo

Kru Pete Mccormick

MUAYTHAI SUPERFIGHTS 2007.

The MuayThai Superfights show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall hosted the must see fight of 2007. The showdown between our very own Haji Imran Khan and the number 1 in the UK, Richard Cadden; and what an amazing fight it turned out to be. Also from Wicker Camp was up and coming star Thomas McCormick who proved he is a force to be reckoned with.
Thomas stepped into the ring 1st to face the experienced Yogendra Parekh. Yogi is a superb fighter, but we felt he wasn't in the best shape for this fight (thankfully)had he been, Thomas would have had a much tougher fight. Tom used his reach to keep him at distance, working to Yogi's body and legs with his strong teep, landing some solid leg kicks and showing very good skill in the clinch. Mick wanted to see Thomas use a range of different skills in this fight to develop his timing in the clinch and test his defence against a very strong puncher. Thomas won every round easily on points over 5 x 2 min rounds. Good exposure for Tom on a big show.
Imran was very nervous. I think he felt the pressure was on to prove what everyone at Wicker Camp expected, that he would beat Richard easily. In the changing rooms he paced nervously, doubting his ability and his preparation. The truth is, Imran was in the best shape of his life. Private tuition twice per day with Mick for the past 8 weeks (even during Ramadam), ensured that he was extremely well prepared.

The fight didn't start that slowly, both fighters were eager to stamp their own aggressive intentions. Not many realise that Imran is a consummate master of defence, it is very hard to hit him. Cadden tried but Imran's blocks were up like lightening. His hand speed is awesome, his power surprising and his knees and elbows are absolutely devastating. It was no surprise to us when Imran cut him early in the 1st round and dropped him with another sharp powerful elbow that forced the Doctor to stop the fight. John Blackledge the Referee, as ever the experienced Pro, stepped in and insisted the Doctor examine the cut.

A final word about Richie Cadden - I know he was disappointed, who wouldn't be. He is still the great fighter he was before this. I don't think he's past it or over the hill, I don't think that he is lacking in skill or any of the things critics may think to say about him. This fight was all about style, a matching of different styles. Richard is such a nice lad. He is also a noble ambassador for our sport, always a gentleman, proud in his many great victories and gracious in this one defeat.