Muay Thai kickboxing

Muay Thai kickboxing came to New York City’s Beacon Theatre earlier this month as a World Kickboxing Association (WKA) event titled Battle at the Beacon. I had never before shot kickboxing, the lesser known cousin of traditional boxing. I found it to be an easier sport to shoot for a couple reasons:

1. There is more action (less dancing around the ring), therefore more opportunities for a killer shot.
2. Kicks, because of their travel distance, are a little slower and easier to anticipate than the punches of traditional boxing.

The sport also somehow seemed less violent, although with the many kicks to the head I witnessed, I’m not sure why that is. Maybe it was just less angry? Anyway, here are my favorite photos from the event, with fighters ID’d left to right (©Madison Square Garden, L.P.):

Daniel Bido vs. Pablo Rayo:

Andre Miller vs. Chris Springer:

Chris Springer:

Malik Warwell vs. PJ McMahon:

Blood! Luckily, none splattered on me.

My favorite fight of the night, Jessica Ng vs. Ani Hilditch:

Andrew Moy vs. John Nofer:

Niko Tsigaras vs. Tim Amorim:

Tim Amorim: