It was done in 60 seconds.
Last Saturday, Queenstown Muay Thai fighter Charlie Charalamabides, 29, won the WKBF New Zealand Muay Thai light welterweight title at Wellington’s Capital Punishment 60, knocking out his Auckland-based opponent, Matthew Phongsai, within the first minute of the first round — the third time he’s finished a fight in 60 seconds of late.
Charalamabides, who started kick-boxing when he was 14, says he knew Phongsai, who’d previously had six stoppages, would be a ‘‘tough opponent’’.
‘‘But the fight itself actually panned out pretty well for me — I finished him in the first round and didn’t take any damage myself, so it went as well as it could have.
‘‘I’m over the moon; it’s a huge achievement for me, I’m just completely buzzing with the result.’’
He pays tribute to his trainer, Fight Science’s Rob Horrocks, the Apex 64kg Muay Thai Warrior champ, who dedicates ‘‘so much time’’ to his fighters, often for free.
‘‘He’s amazing, so the least I can do is go in there and win for him …’’
There’s now a chance Charalamabides will be entered into a $10,000 ‘8 MAN’ tournament this November — in which quarters, semis and finals are held in the same night.
‘‘I’d literally have to fight for my life for it, but it’d be worth it if I get entered in and I win.’’
