The Wickhams martial arts head Muay Thai trainer claimed his third career title on Saturday, July 6, at Powerhouse XII in Mackay.
Eikkasit challenged Connor Gillen for the World Muay Thai Organisation 61kg Australian Championship.
“He had an unorthodox style,” said Kiw’s wife Tracey.
“He was very bouncy, whereas (in Muay Thai) typically when we fight our feet are planted.
“It was very much like boxers, how they bounce around a bit.”
During the fight, Eikkasit landed a knee strike to his opponent’s mid-section, but Gillen was able to recover after an eight-count.
The fight, contested over five two-minute rounds, went the distance, but Eikkasit had done enough to earn a unanimous decision from the judges.
Eikkasit almost didn’t make it to fight night, a family tragedy nearly forcing him to call off the bout.
“We generally have a six-week fight camp which is hardcore training in the lead-up to their fight,” Tracey said.
“This particular camp, we had signed off on the contracts and everything, and we were probably two weeks in, and we found our Kiw’s mum is terminally ill with cancer and not only that, but rapidly declining.
“We almost pulled the pin, but it was really tricky because we didn’t really know what was going to happen.
“Kiw made the decision to (fight) because she’s in Thailand, and we can’t just get in the car and go.
“So, emotionally Kiw had some battles through this one.”
Kiw’s mother continues to battle illness in Thailand.
Now 44, Eikkasit is fighting less often than in the past as he focuses more on his students at Wickhams, but purports the benefits of martial arts as a hobby.
“(It’s) very good for your body when you train every day,” he said.
He also holds a Z1 Muay Thai title belt and is the champion of a gym in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Also on the Powerhouse XII card was Wickam’s Jack Matthews, who was looking to add to his WBC Muay Thai Victorian Super Lightweight Championship he won in February when he challenged Jye Van Polen for the WMO title at 63kg.
Eikkasit and the trainers at Wickhams felt Jack had done enough to earn a victory, but the judges awarded the fight to Van Polen in a unanimous decision
The Wickhams Martial Arts Muay Thai team will be heading to Thailand for a unique opportunity in the September school holidays, with some of the centre’s most promising juniors to experience what it was like for Eikkasit training to fight in Thailand.
Jack’s brother Daniel has also recently made the trip to Thailand, where he is scheduled for upcoming bouts.
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