Maroubra’s Cruz Briggs making waves in Muay Thai world
JUST six years ago Cruz Briggs was out drinking too much and getting into scraps. He’s now a professional sportsman on the cusp of an incredible career. See the video.
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JUST six years ago Cruz Briggs was directionless.
He was partying too much, getting into scraps and had no idea what he was going to do after leaving school.
Then his mum took him to Bondi Junction’s 8Limbs Gym where he met Muay Thai coach Alessandro Vidoni.
Fast-forward to spring 2018 and the 21-year-old is a professional sportsman with a promising career ahead of him.
“Before I started I was getting into trouble and getting into fights,” Briggs, from Maroubra, said.
“But it changed everything. It taught me about respect and discipline. I loved it straight away.”
After finishing school Briggs would race up to the Bronte Rd gym and beg Alessandro to let him in the ring.
But first he had to learn the basics and improve his fitness. When he finally got in the ring, he soon showed his talent and toughness — something he puts down to his upbringing.
“It helped,” he said of his Maroubra childhood. “I had that confidence and I knew how to stick up for myself.
“I grew up with my brother and him and his mates used to bash me about a bit so I got used to it.”
Aged just 17 he got the opportunity to spend a month living and training in Thailand.
“It was tough but I loved it. You’d wake up, do a 10km run then go straight to training for two and a half hours. Then it would be eat, sleep and then the same again in the afternoon.
“It’s another level over there.
“I missed home but I realised when I came back everyone was just doing the same thing.”
He started fighting in the amateur ranks and soon the titles starting piling up. Before long he held the Australian, South Pacific, Commonwealth and World titles.
On a return visit to Thailand — this time for six months — he realised he had the potential to go professional.
“I realised I could do it, I realised I was good enough. I’ve done lots of little jobs but this is the only thing I’ve really enjoyed.”
There’s no denying Muay Thai is at times brutal. But there’s more to it than kicking and punching your opponent as hard as you can. There is an enormous amount of skill, technique and tactics.
At the heart of the sport is a notion of respect — particularly towards your opponent.
“There’s no trash talking like other sports,” Briggs said. “I respect everyone who gets in that ring, I think that’s important.”
”Once it’s over we shake hands and have a beer.”
The biggest fight of his short career saw him travel across the Tasman to face the experienced Sam “The Shank” Hill in Auckland last month.
Nobody expected much from him but he dominated the Kiwi and came away with a unanimous points victory.
“People thought I was going over there to get smoked. I think that opened a lot of people’s eyes.”
His hard work and talent is also being noticed by sponsors with Italian brand Leone 1947 making him an ambassador and making him part of its fighting team.
Next up for Briggs is a fight against Sam McDowell, the current Australian champion, at Dee Why Hotel in October.
He’s come a long way since walking into 8Limbs Gym six years ago.
But where does he see himself in another six years?
“I want to own my own gym and be fighting all over the world against the best fighters,” he said. “I want to make a name for myself. I want to create a bit of a legacy.”