Sunshine Coast Muay Thai fighters ready for Youth World Championships

Four Sunshine Coast Muay Thai stars will embark on a bid for international glory after being selected to represent Australia at the Youth World Championships in Turkey.

Sunshine Coast Muay Thai fighters Lochlan Wallis, Jorja Hersey, Skylah Hamill and Josh Robson. Pictures: Patrick Woods.

Four Sunshine Coast Muay Thai talents are now juggling school and eight gruelling training sessions a week in a bid to batter and bruise their way to a world title.

The three teens and one 12-year-old local talents have been selected to represent Australia at the Youth World Championship in Turkey at the end of 2023.

The event will be held in Antalya, Turkey and run from September 29 to October 8, featuring up to 2000 participants aged between 10 and 18 from more than 120 countries.

Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre head coach Joe Hilton said he was excited for the coming months.

“It’s a big achievement and a great experience for each of them whether they’ve been before or whether it’s their first time,” he said.

“It’s a big contest, just to meet all the countries, the fighters and to see how respectful everyone is to the different cultures and backgrounds is great which leads to the kids making lifelong friends around the world.

“We’ll get there on the first day, they’ve all got to make weight and if they win they progress but if they lose they’re out,” he said.

“They’ve got to keep weighing in every day so it’s a gruelling process and for someone to go the distance they’ll fight maybe four or five times within 10 days.”

Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre coach Joe Hilton. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Hilton, who established his gym in 1994, said the intensity of training has stepped up.

“Everything at training is to do with safety so we’ll wear headgear, elbow and shin guards and a body pad so that they can compete and train at a high level day after day,” he said.

“They’ll each train six to eight times a week in the gym plus any extras at home so it’s a big commitment which goes for the next three months.

“They’ve got their heads down working hard while some of them also juggle and stay on top of their school work.”

Hilton said he was proud of his junior stars.

“I’ve been doing it for a lot of years and I’ve had a lot of champions but these guys work extremely hard which is what makes them champions,” he said.

“They each have fights or we’re lining up fights for the next few weeks and months so that they can get a bit more experience before we fly out.”

Find out more about the four hopefuls below:

Skylah Hamill

Age: 17

Record: 27 wins, 2 losses, 6 TKOs

Achievements: Three-time IFMA World Gold Medallist, IFMA World Bronze Medallist and a five-time MTA National Gold Medallist.

Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre fighter Skylah Hamill. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I’ve been fighting for seven years and I’ve been to world champs four times so I’d say I’m most excited because this is my last year being able to compete,” she said.

“It’s always cool to be around the different countries and seeing or experiencing their cultures.

“I’m hoping to win gold and I’d like to thank my sponsors who have helped me a lot.”

In November 2022 Hammill won the Australian flyweight title in her first ever fight against an adult opponent.

Jorja Hersey

Age: 16

Record: 6 wins, 2 losses, 4 TKOs

Achievements: IFMA World Youth Muay Thai Silver Medallist and a three-time MTA National Gold Medallist.

Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre fighter Jorja Hersey. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I’ve been fighting for six years, I went last year to worlds and I competed for gold but I unfortunately lost due to being sick,” she said.

“I’m really excited to go to Turkey mainly for the experience and just learning more about the sport as we go.

“It will be cool to meet new people from different parts of the world and also people from across Australia that are apart of the industry.

“My aim is to come home with gold this time.”

Hersey is one of six children which she says drives her competitive determination.

Lochlan Wallis

Age: 13

Record: 4 wins, no losses

Achievements: MTA National Gold Medallist.

Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre fighter Lochlan Wallis. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I’ve been fighting for a year and a half, I’m very excited as it’s a big opportunity and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the fighting experience and challenging myself against better opponents.

“Hopefully I can fight to the best of my abilities and just try the best I can.”

Josh Robson

Age: 12

Record: 10 wins, 7 losses

Achievements: MTA National Gold Medallist, WKBF Queensland State Title and a Siam Cup Queensland Title.

Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre fighter Josh Robson. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“It’s a second shot for me to go overseas and I want to try and redeem myself from last year after I got knocked out,” he said.

“I’m also really looking forward to travelling somewhere I’ve never been before.”

Robson’s favourite weapon of choice is the superman punch.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Muay Thai fighters ready for Youth World Championships