Teenage Muay Thai fighter looks to extend 11-fight unbeaten streak

17-year-old Matty McLeish is set for his twelfth fight and is looking to extend his unbeaten 11-fight streak.

The young fighter next steps into the ring on Saturday, September 16 on Teeside at the Redcar Leisure Centre where he will take on Ryan O'Donnell fighting out of Silipa Muay Thai in Bishop Auckland.

This bout all signifies another test for the 17-year-old who trains at Carlisle's Dragon Gym, with a national title fight in October approaching. 

Matty McLeish (Image: Dragon's Gym)

Ahead of the bout, McLeish said that he is ready for the challenge. 

"I feel myself getting better every, at least 1 per cent," He said.

"I feel in good shape for this one."

McLeish trains alongside a number of talented local fighters at the Lorne Street Gym and is coached by his father, Matty McLeish Snr.

However, ahead of his latest fight, he described how in the ring he has to be at his best. 

He said: "It's different from anything else you could ever do, it's you and one other person in there.

Matty McLeish trains at Carlisle's Dragon's Gym (Image: Newsquest)

"There is no one else in the ring to help you, obviously you get your coaches shouting stuff at you, telling you what to do but at the end of the day it is you and your own performance."

McLeish also explained, in an earlier interview, why he loves Muay Thai and how he became so enamored with the extreme sport.

He said: "I love this sport because it is not something that everybody can do.

"I think it was the physical part of it, the hitting, the elbowing, the kneeing because I tried karate and that was just standing and shadow boxing pretty much but the physical hitting and getting the workout and getting the anger out.

"I think it might be a bit harsh but anyone can play tennis or badminton but Thai boxing, martial arts in general it's a much harder thing to do.