ON one of the biggest nights of Muay Thai boxing in the UK this year, Haydon Bridge-based Finn Welch, 19, was crowned the new WBC British Super Welterweight Champion.
On a card stacked with elite match-ups, the main event at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle saw Welch up against Scottish opponent and reigning champion Jonny Craig, who had won the WBC belt at the same venue in June 2024.
The pace was immediately fast and furious, with both fighters landing plenty of blows in the opening round, and it didn't slacken in the second round.
Welch scored points with powerful kicks, but Craig made his mark when he responded by closing the distance to connect with punches.
The pendulum then started to swing in Welch's favour in the third round.
He was coming inside to take the initiative in the clinch, and his elbows were always a threat.
The action was just as intense in the fourth round as it was in the first, but by this stage Welch was well on top.
He was in the groove and continued to boss the clinch exchanges, and had found his range to score regularly with punches as well as kicks.
The fifth and final round could have been the time for Welch to play it safe, but he never stopped attacking. He consistently struck first and showed his dominance by forcing Craig onto the back foot.
The judges scored the contest 50-47, 50-47, 50-48 in favour of Welch, who was following in the footsteps of older brother Joe by claiming a WBC belt in Newcastle.
Still on an upward trajectory and proving to be one of the UK's brightest Muay Thai talents, this latest win in the biggest fight of his career moved Welch up to 20th in the world rankings.
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