Fight fans are in for a huge night on Friday April 14, when two titans of Muay Thai boxing clash at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Perth-based Thailand fighter Sanapar Noi will defend his world junior middleweight title against against rugged South Pacific champion Dale Middleton, of Sydney.

The pair have fought on two previous occasions with Noi taking the honours in what many martial arts enthusiasts have described as some of the best clashes ever seen in an Australian ring.

Noi has been living and training at Phon’s Gym, Northbridge, since moving to Perth four years ago and in 10 fights on Australian soil remains undefeated.

LINK artist Renee Armstrong is one of many people who train on a regular basis at Phon’s Gym.

Armstrong, who has her sights set on winning a women’s world ametuer title next year in Thailand, has been receiving expert tuition from Noi for the past two years.

With more than 130 fights to his name the experienced Noi is highly skilled at unleashing combinations of kicks, elbows, knees and punches from either side of his armour like body.

When he does get hit with a good one Noi has the unnerving habit of smiling back at his opponent before exchanging blows again.

Before moving to Australia he was ranked in the top 10 of Thailands professional fighters.

But if any Australian is going to trouble Noi it will be Dale Middleton, regarded as Australia’s toughest and meanest ring fighter.

In fact, such is Middleton’s reputation these days, that no-one, apart from Noi, is prepared to step into the ring and fight him anymore.

Middleton has been in intense training for four months and has vowed to keep fighting Noi until he eventually defeats him.

Their five, three minute round clash promises to be one of the best fights ever seen in Australia.

Also featuring on the 11-bout card is a stoush between Perth’s Darren Reece and Queensland’s Craig Hogan for the vacant Oceania welterweight title.

Popular Perth fighter Brett Dalton is back from Thailand and will be going all out in his customary aggressive style, to win the vacant Oceania light-heavyweight title.

There are also two National titles and two State titles up for grabs as well as some exciting under-card bouts featuring some of the sport’s rising stars, including Andrew Duncan and Raymond Scepanovich.

Anyone who hasn’t witnessed Muay Thai boxing should check out this action packed night before deciding whether the sport is too violent. Promoter Phon Martdee said Muay Thai was much less dangerous than other combact sports such as boxing.

“The head isn’t targeted anywhere near as much as boxing - most of the blows are directed at the opponent’s body and legs”, he said.

“Sanapar Noi has had more than 130 fights, he looks great and his mind is still clear and sharp.

In Muay Thai boxing, trainers want to preserve their fighters for as long as they can, so if a fighter looks to be in trouble we are very quick to throw in the towel.

“But most people who train at my gym do it for health, fitness, discipline, self-confidence and to gain superior mental and physical balance.

“Only a few people of the hundreds who have trained with me have ever become fighters.

“These are usually people who have attained a high level of physical co-ordination and reached a skill level where they want to test themselves in the ring against another person of the same weight and ability.

“It’s a bit like swimming. Lots of people enjoy it for fitness and fun, but only a few ever get to that ability where they are capable of competing at an elite level.

“Even then I make sure to train them offensively and defensively so they are well prepared to compete in the ring.”

Phon said Muay Thai was a form of fighting that was 2000 years old and had continued to evlove each centurt to the sport it is today.

More than 70 nations around the world are affiliated with the Thailand-based International Amateur and Professional Muay Thai Federations.

Phon said Australian fighters were starting to make their presence felt on the international scenethough they were disadvantaged because of their isolation.

“In places like Europe there are many Muay Thai fighters so they can have regular boutswhich gives them much more experience,” he said.

“But Australian fighters make up for their lack of experience with enthusiasm and courage, which is appreciated and applauded whenever they visit Thailand.”

Phon first arrived in Perth in 1989 to study English. He quickly set up a gym in Osborne Park and within three years had organised a world title bout at the Mt Claremont Superdrome.

The sport has now grown to the stage where Phon promotes two major fight cards each year - and these include sanctioned world title bouts.

He said Tae Bo and body contact, the two latest fitness crazes sweeping the world were good because they indirectly helped promote Muay Thai.