FIGHTERS from the Bury-based Muay Thai gym got the better of Spanish opponents as the club hosted its first show in almost eight years recently.

The show took place at Ashton Masonic Hall after the club had difficulty finding a suitable venue but the GFC fighters from Bury still made home advantage tell, winning every bout against their opponents from five different gyms in Seville.

First up was St Gabriel’s pupil, Ella Thompstone, who fought Marta Rodrigueaz.

Thompstone has been training less time than all the other GFC fighters, but used her superior reach to good effect, wearing her opponent down to stop her in round four.

Next up, double European champion, Darby High School student Lewis George, fought the equally highly-rated Ruben Garcia.

Garcia started fast, but George showed his experience and paced the fight well, taking over from round three and landing some heavy shots to run out a big points winner.

Kelisha Dodds, who attends Fairfield Girls in Droylsden, fought the much older Clara Guerrero in perhaps the closest fight of the night.

Dodds had to use all her ring nuance to not let her opponent into the fight, winning on points with a very technical performance.

Another double European champion and St Gabriel’s pupil, Lewis Bentley, made short work of Joaquin Fernandez, stopping him in just 30 seconds of the first round.

First up for the adults was former Elton High School pupil, Hassan Din, who faced Javier Segura.

Din had been ill three weeks before the show and nearly had to pull out and it showed in a very tentative start which probably gave the Spanish team hope of their first win.

It was not to be, though, as Din picked up the pace round by round to totally dominate with some eye-catching techniques, winning on points in what was widely described as fight of the night.

Last of the GFC fighters, and another former Elton High School student, Adam Haslam, featured in the co-main event, fighting Jaime Roldan Perea.

Haslam controlled the fight from the start, again using his superior reach to good advantage and not allowing his opponent to get a hold in the fight.

Picking the pace up in round three, Haslam hurt his opponent with a straight knee to the body, then dropped him for a count with an elbow.

Not long after Roldan Perea got up, but he was hit with another elbow and this time was unable to beat the count.

In the co-main event, another former St Gabriel’s pupil, Josh Turbill, made his comeback to fighting after a year out representing All Powers gym in Stockport.

Turbill blew the rust off pretty quickly, stopping his opponent Craig Jones, from Macclesfield Thai, in the third round with a lovely knee to the body.

This all came after host-club fighter, Anthony Hamer, opened the show against Oldham’s Esa Hussain and ran out a convincing winner on points.

GFC plan another show on September 22 at the Rank Bennett Hall at Woodhey High School.

Anybody wanting details of the show or the gym can contact Darren on 07939 277002.