One body to rule our sport, says local ex-world champ

A FORMER Thai boxing world champion is calling for a single governing body to regulate the sport.
Russ Williams, from Caerwys, who coaches and trains children from the age of four, has spoken out following the production of a controversial Channel 4 documentary.

The programme, due to be screened on Thursday, follows the stories of children as young as five taking part in organised Thai Boxing fights.

Mr Williams said he is "totally against" the idea and is calling for the sport to be regulated in the same way as professional or amateur boxing.

He said: "I was invited to the House of Commons to have lunch with the then sports minister, Colin Moynihan, in 1990 after winning an undisputed world kickboxing title.

"We talked about setting up a governing body for the sport in the UK as they have in most other countries.

"He said he was looking into to setting it up but 20 years on it doesn't look any nearer into coming into place.

"Channel 4 asked me would I participate in the programme, and I said I don't allow any children to take part in any full contact events until they're at least 12 years old.

"There are way too many associations in the UK and it needs government legislation to set up one governing body which would have control of all the events in the UK to make sure they are run safely."

Mr Williams added: "Now there is nearly a club in every town – the sport is growing.

"It should be run the same as professional and amateur boxing - with one governing body.

"All I'm looking for is all the governing bodies to get together to make sure the sport is regulated."

Mr Williams helps people between four and 60 to keep fit at his centre and said 95 per cent of them just train for fitness and self defence and do not train to fight.

In the other countries where the sport is regulated, crowds of up to 50,000 watch the competitions and the sport is shown live on national television.

Mr Williams said he would not put anyone forward for a full contact competition unless they were at least 12 years old with all the safety precautions in place.

Mr Williams will be opening a new martial arts centre in Wrexham Town Centre at the beginning of June which will become the headquarters for Thai and kickboxing in Wales.