By Tanya Faulkner
From Ferntree Gully to Thailand: two local Muay Thai fighters are set to make their pro debut on the world stage.
Allie Woods and Matthew Massuger are taking the next step in their fighting careers, looking to make a name for themselves as they embark on a journey to Thailand later this year.
The pair have been training Muay Thai at World Fitness Cartel (WFC) gym in Ferntree Gully for approximately three years each, with the goal of making it on the international stage.
Mr Massuger said this has been his aim since he started training, and he is looking forward to having his hand raised in the ring in the country the sport originated.
“Muay Thai is more than just a physical sport; it’s also a mental puzzle with dire consequences. To win a fight is a massive achievement that I aim to do in Thailand,” he said.
In his opinion, Muay Thai is one of the hardest sports to train for, and the achievement of winning is what it is all about.
Training has become his whole life outside of his work as a landscaper, spending at least three days a week in the gym and training in Muay Thai almost every day after work.
So far in his career, Mr Massuger holds three wins out of seven fights and is looking forward to making a pro debut overseas.
“Taking this step in Thailand takes the pressure off from doing it in Australia,” he said.
“I can leave everything here behind and focus on the goal over there.”
For Ms Woods, what started as a way to work on her fitness a couple of days a week has become a passion and a full-time career in the gym.
“I started just wanting to train kickboxing a couple of times a week for fitness, which turned into a few times a day training in Muay Thai, and now I work here both on the gym floor and taking classes and training in the beginner’s boot camps,” she said.
She said it’s about the physical training and the overall development the sport provides for her, with her eyes set on going pro one day.
“Each time you train or fight, you learn to push yourself to the absolute limit and then more,” she said.
“Getting past that point and perfecting skills for each fight is one of the best things of the sport.”
The pair will make the journey to Thailand alongside several other amateur athletes from WFC gym all looking to develop their skills.
WFC gym owner and ex-fighter Dwayne Harris said giving athletes the opportunity to go overseas and experience the sport they love in the country it originated from is something not many fighters from Australia experience.
“Some of those going have never been overseas before, let alone trained Muay Thai over there. This trip will combine a holiday with full-time training to give the athletes the full experience of the sport, history and culture behind it,” he said.
During their time overseas, the athletes will endure two morning and evening training sessions, coached by world-class students and former world-class champions, and put through the riggers of bag work, spar work, and technical training.
For Mr Harris, the trip is more than just a training camp for the athletes, it’s also a way to open up more opportunities for those with an interest in the sport, progressing in martial arts, and helping other people through some of the day to day struggles they experience.
“Muay Thai, like other martial arts sports, is a way for people to work through bad situations and find a love for the sport,” he said.
“The one thing in common with almost everyone that has come through WFC gym is that training changes their lives, and it’s a fantastic feeling to have that impact on so many people in the community.”
For Mr Harris the gym was a no-brainer, establishing it in 2015 following his own successful career in Muay Thai, with the goal to provide others in the community with the same opportunities that he had through martial arts.
“We survived the Covid pandemic and the gym has just been going from strength to strength. It’s allowed me to work with and develop so many people and provide more opportunities including coaching roles and helping kids, as well as the opportunity to go to Thailand,” he said.
Mr Harris said he is looking forward to making the journey to Thailand with his group from the gym, working alongside Allie Woods and Matthew Massuger in their pro-debuts overseas, and taking the athletes to new levels in their careers.
