Jack Matthews has been hard at work at Muay Thai Lab under trainer Kiw Eikkasit ahead of his main event on Saturday. Photo: Jordan Townrow.
Echuca-trained Muay Thai fighter Jack Matthews is returning to the ring for his first bout of 2026, this time in the main event slot.
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What was originally slated as a double headline for Kyabram brothers Jack and Daniel at Roots 31: Rock Stone has turned into a single outing for the pair’s newly formed stable Muay Thai Lab, after Daniel’s scheduled main event opponent was unable to make the bout.
It pushes Jack’s semi-main contest against Sunny Mawer into top spot on the card, the two to go at it at catchweight (62.5kg) over five three-minute rounds.
Matthews took to the ring for only three professional bouts in 2025, now returning to the Rebellion/Roots promotion that has hosted more of his fights than any other.
“It's an honour to headline the show,” Matthews said.
“Me and my brother started in this show, so to be able to headline is pretty special.
“I thought my brother’s fight would be very good fight to watch, especially as the main event.
“I’m a bit sad that even I missed out on that one, but I’m keen to bring it.”
Boasting a 12-6 professional record, Matthews has put together some highlight performances over the past few years, claiming the WBC Muay Thai Victorian Super Lightweight Championship in 2024, and defeating ONE Championship alumni Chan Rothana in his opponent’s home country of Cambodia and discipline, Kun Khmer, last year.
Matthews is expecting Mawer, who is still early in his career but has already won the WMO Lightweight Queensland State Title, to bring an unorthodox approach, focused on kicks, to the contest.
Jack Matthews is set to battle Sunny Mawer at 62.5kg.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The local fighter has been developing his strength, a long-term goal to drop down weight classes beginning to come to fruition with this bout.
“I'm just focusing in on my conditioning, and my strength training at the moment has been going very well,” Matthews said.
“I'm feeling a lot stronger than I've ever been, and I’m looking forward to also going down in weight for this fight to something a bit more comfortable instead of being so heavy.”
Hoping to eventually settle at 61kg, Matthews has taken a welcome step down for this bout from 63.5kg to 62.5kg, continuing to find it difficult to pair with opponents at 61kg.
Roots 31: Rock Stone will be held at the Melbourne Pavilion on Saturday, February 28.
Doors open from 5pm, with the first bouts at 6pm.
Muay Thai Lab open for business
The Matthews brothers are part of the newly formed Muay Thai Lab martial arts school, run by head trainer Kiw Eikkasit and his wife, Tracey, who have formed their own business after previously working under Wickham’s Martial Arts in Echuca.
The lab, which opened at the end of last year, runs sessions on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings training Muay Thai, boxing and general conditioning, with classes targeted towards kids, “big kids” and teens as well as adults.
You can find more information about Muay Thai Lab on its Facebook or Instagram pages, with inquiries welcome via direct message.
The lab boasts three professional fighters: the Matthews brothers and Reese McMaster.
McMaster has an upcoming bout on an all-female fight card on the Gold Coast on March 21, and although Daniel Matthews’ bout this weekend fell through, he is looking to establish himself within the Rajadamnern World Series, the premier circuit for the sport, after great results in the Road to Rajadamnern series at the end of 2025.
Participation in the RWS, held in Thailand, is self-funded, and Muay Thai Lab is looking for sponsorship ahead of potential bouts this year.
Interested businesses can reach out on the club’s socials.
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