A STOPPAGE in the third round ended Dave Newbrook’s hopes of a fourth world title in a bout billed as the “Rumble at the Reebok”.
Fighting in front of 5,000 people at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium arena, Chester warrior Newbrook took a heavy blow to the head and the referee ended the battle, handing the WKA 64.5kg world Muay Thai boxing title to Bury's Andy Thrasher.
Speaking after Sunday’s cable channel televised event, 32-year-old Newbrook said: “I took a shin across the face in the second round and that put me down on the floor. I had a cut across my nose and eye and I was down for about six counts.
“I gave it him back and fought until the end of the round but in the next round, the third, I went down again. I was up on my feet but the ref called it off. It’s one of those things. I wouldn’t argue with the decision.”
Newbrook, who still holds two light-welterweight world titles and his WPKC welterweight belt, stepped up a weight to fight Thrasher but was still surprised by the result.
“He had the weight on me, it was my speed against his power, but I didn’t think the weight was going to come into it,” he added.
Although Newbrook specialises Muay Thai kickboxing, which allows the use of elbows and knees, he has experimented with mixed martial arts (MMA) cagefighting, and admits the lure of the more commercial MMA could see him step away from Muay Thai.
“I think I will probably look towards mixed martial arts and just train for the cage fighting now,” said the city centre resident. “It’s something I want to do. This is a young man’s game. I will keep continuing with the classes and brining people in to the sport.”
Eighteen-year-old John Henry McNamara, of Newtown, continued to gain valuable experience after losing to a much older opponent on the night.
