In America the face of Muay Thai is not the same as in Thailand. But In Thailand the face is a lot more black.
And representation is important. It’s easier to do stuff when people look like you. Most black people didn’t care about MMA until they saw a black person fighting.
For a lot of kids is like telling them I went to Thailand is like telling them I went to Mars.
A lot of black kids in don’t get out of the city unless they play sports. They don’t know about the careers of black men and women in Thailand. My career and the career of other black people show that they can go places. Muay Thai can take them somewhere.
I know I took an unconventional route but I got somewhere and now I can help other people.
There are a lot of black fighters that have created new paths and new destinations, this is just a select few. Supporting these people is crucial for building the sport. These are a few of the Black men from the USA that have helped push the sport.
Cyrus Washington
To me Cyrus is the OG. The amount of fights he had, the length of time he was here, what he did. Washington helped put black male fighters to the forefront. I can’t think of anyone before him. One of the big things he did was show that anyone can do it. Black men can go to Thailand and build a career out of fighting.
He started boxing and fighting at 18 years old. Then he came to Thailand first time in 2008. His trainer back home told him to go to Thailand. He packed his bags and went.
Washington was a boxer that had a several black belts. He blended traditional martial arts with Muay Thai. It probably hurt him on some judge score cards but in terms of blending Muay Thai with other techniques, he did something unique. He won a Lethwei title with a spinning kick. He was the first foreigner to win it, way before white guys like Leduc came around.
Cyrus is a very credentialed fighter with 79 wins, 30 losses, and 49 Kos. He has fought on the King’s Birthday Cup, The Queen’s birthday show, he is a former WBC US Champion and has fought a host of big names. He has taken on Jomhod Kiatadisak, Cosmo Alexander, Kaoklai Kaennorsing, Nicky Holzken and more.
Charles TJ Johnson
Johnson’s story is one of the most inspirational. He didn’t come alone. He has a wife and a family but he came. They made a hard choice. It’s easy to do when you’re single but when you have two kids and long term partner it’s different.
Johnson shattered the myth of possibility. He embodied hard work. In a short period of time he went from no professional fights to the top of the Max Muay Thai rankings fighting and beating Kongthailand Kiatnavy. He had a total of 13 professional bouts. His first three were small shows and then the rest at Max.
He had the gamblers talking. He made a mark and showed what you can do if you put the hard work and time in. He’s a special case.
“My proudest accomplishment was realizing that I had the faith to take the leap,” Johnson said. “I left everything behind and followed my passion.”
Johnson trained and fought out of Sitjaopho gym in Hua Hin. He was in Thailand from October 2016 to January 2020. He moved back to America and began Kingdom Martial Arts Academy in San Antonio Texas.
Warren Tu Stavone
Stavone ran under the radar for a long time. When he got to Max it blew him up. He got the exposure he needed.
He had swagger which I think really helped him a lot. He was a very technical and a tricky southpaw fighter.
Back in 2010 Stavone said, “I want to make it to Thailand. I want to fight in Lumpinee Stadium, that’s where every Muay Thai fighter wants to go. And I will be there soon.”
And he did it.
A lot of young fighters should look him up. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Stavone was a regular on Max Muay Thai and participated in the Silver Belt Tournament where he beat the UK’s Luke Bar. He fought around Thailand and took on Antoine Pinto in Thai Fight. He trained out of MTM Academy in Bangkok. He currently resides in Chicago.
Malik Watson Smith
Watson came from a family of marital artists. He made the move to Thailand at 18 years old. Cyrus and I were looking out for him.
He lived all over Thailand. He stayed in Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Isaan. The rural northeast is where the majority of fighters are from. Watson learned Thai and fought in the birthplace of the sport.
Watson spent over six years in Thailand. Moving around the ring for the majority of his time in the country.
He scrapped with some of the best including Buakaw Banchamek and Antoine Pinto. He went on to fight at Glory in America after leaving Thailand.
“Right now I’m a dad and trying to make an American life. I’m proud of fighting Buakaw.,” Watson Smith said. “Special shout out to Ricardo Perez and Team Toro. Without them none of this would have been possible.
