Ally Smith

Achievements and Qualifications

Ally has been training in Muaythai for almost 10 years, he first walked into a class in Cumnock at only 15 years old and has been hooked on training and martial arts ever since. Here are some of his career highlights and educational achievements.

Started training in June 1998 under the excellent supervision and guidance of Alan Currie.

Ally had his first professional Muaythai fight with no padded protection, at only 16 years old and with only 1 year of training, he won on points.

Several fights were to follow, taking him, around the country to Liverpool, Stockport and Manchester. Ally was racking up the wins at C class and then went for his first Scottish title.

Ally fought for the Scottish Thai Boxing Association Light-Middleweight Title on 20^th October 2001, even with very bad sunburn (stay off the sun bed's kids) Ally defeated his opponent, Paul Shaw, by stoppage in the 4^th round.

Only 5 weeks later Ally fought again for a Northern Area title. This time he travelled to Wakefield in Yorkshire. Even while up against a very rowdy home crowd Ally defeated his opponent on points.

April 2002, Ally fought Paul Shaw again, this time for a World Muaythai Council light-middleweight Scottish title.  Paul put up a better fight this time but Ally still took the victory on points.

May 2002, Ally fought in the first ever Scottish Amateur Championships in Linwood. He had three fights in one day and won the Light-Middleweight Division and with it a chance to compete at the World Championships in Thailand.

19^th to 25^th July 2002, Ally fought in the A class of the light-middleweight division which was the busiest of the tournament. Ally drew a tough opponent from Uzbekistan, unfortunately Ally suffered his second loss on points but it was to a well deserved opponent.

April 2003 took Ally to Dumfries to defend his STBA Scottish title, Ally fought a great fight which should have been stopped in the third round, but the referee kept the fight going and Ally won decisively on points.

Scottish K1 MAX Champion

Ally wasn't to fight again until March 2004 which provided him with a much deserved rest from the rigours of fight training. This time it would be a new challenge that Ally faced, the first ever K1 MAX Championship event to be held in Scotland. This event would put the best 70kg fighters Scotland had to offer in an 8 man elimination tournament. After his break Ally threw himself into getting into the best condition he had ever been in and he had plenty of support/torturous training from Alan, the time off allowed Ally to put on more muscle and increase his strength and power. This of course came with extra weight and Ally had to be 70kg on the day before the fight to qualify for the tournament. The week leading up to the K1 MAX Ally reduced his training and prepared his mind and body for the fights ahead. But he was still 4 kg , nearly 9 lbs, over the 70kg maximum weight. His easy training sessions allowed him to burn some extra fat while still readying himself for the fights. He was studying sports coaching at Kilmarnock College and they tested his average resting heart rate to be 40 beats per minute and friend  John Dunlop tested his body fat to be around 5-6%, which meant he was in excellent physical condition but he still had to lose 3.6kg, over half a stone.

There was nothing else for it, Ally ate his last meal, some dry chicken and salad at 5.30pm on the Friday night and  went to his bed at 7pm. Saturday morning Ally went down the gym as usual but he was very hungry and just a wee bit crabby from the ordeal. At 1.30pm he and his girlfriend Michelle headed to the sauna with his own digital scales, he had to make sure his weight was correct. Over three hours later and with the support from Michelle and a black bin liner Ally had lost 3 kg of water weight and was desperately needing a drink! The weigh in was in the fight venue, the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew, Glasgow at 6.30pm. Most of the other fighters were present and Ally was first to step on the scales. He'd done it, 70.6kg was passed and Ally drank three bottles of Powerade, ate a tin of tuna and he and Michelle went out for a steak dinner to fill up all of his energy reserves.

On the day of the fight Ally and his team turned up just as they had made the draw. Ally would be the first fight up against Richard Irvine, a solid fighter from the Sit Ayutha camp. Ally went straight after the win, after only 1 minute and 15 seconds in the first round Ally had won by KO. The semi-final draw saw Ally up against Rab Burt from STBA, this time Ally beat him in only 1 minute 10 seconds by referee stoppage. Ally could then watch the other semi-final with Alan to see who he would be facing in the final. James Jarvie from Fighting Fit gym in Kirkcaldy won a very hard fight and would face Ally in the final. Ally knew he was in for a battle as James is a very accomplished fighter. Ally went straight for the knockout as James had suffered some heavy injuries in his semi-final. The fight was over in only 1minute 35 seconds, Ally's longest fight of the day. Ally was now the first ever Scottish K1 MAX Champion.

Once again Ally had a long break from serious fight training, Alan then suggested that Ally be the headline fight on the first martial arts event in Ayrshire, Martial Mayhem! on 30^th October 2005. This fight would be a Thaisport Light-Heavyweight British title against a tough fighter from Caledonian Muaythai, Norrie McKenzie. This fight would be 5 x 3 minute rounds with full Thai rules. Ally fought a very hard fight and Norrie's long limbs were very hard to attack against, the judges decision was split but it went to Ally, he was now a British Champion at another weight class.

More Achievements