Photo Cred: Steve Desmond
At just 17, Aideen Mullins brings home a world championship for Ireland at the World Boxing Championships (WBC) Amazing Muay Thai World Festival in Venice, Italy, that took place between June 22 to 25.
Mullins, who is from Cork, defeated the number one ranked fighter from the UK in the final, becoming a world champion in the 63.5kg, Super Lightweight, juvenile category.
There are many different weight classes for Muay Thai that are used in different parts of the world, and are in categories of male divisions, female divisions, ONE championships (both male and female), Rajadamnern Stadium, Lumpinee Stadium, and World Muay Thai Council weight classes.
Weight classes for the Female Divisions:
| Super Lightweight | 63.5 kg | 140 lbs |
| Lightweight | 61.235 kg | 135 lbs |
| Super Featherweight | 58.967 kg | 130 lbs |
| Featherweight | 57.153 kg | 126 lbs |
| Super Bantamweight | 55.338 kg | 122 lbs |
| Bantamweight | 53.524 kg | 118 lbs |
| Super Flyweight | 52.163 kg | 115 lbs |
| Flyweight | 50.802 kb | 112 lbs |
| Light Flyweight | 48.988 kb | 108 lbs |
| Mini Flyweight | 47.627 kg | 105 lbs |
Chart Credit: muaythai.com
Muay Thai is a form of martial arts and is similar to other Indochinese styles of kickboxing.
What sets Muay Thai apart from kickboxing is that it is an eight-point striking system that combines boxing and kicking. It is also referred to as the art of eight limbs, referring to the eight points of contact that are used in fighting.
Muay Thai is not currently an Olympic sport, but it has been becoming increasingly popular around the world. There has been talks about it becoming an accredited Olympic discipline.
"That would be a dream come true," said Mullins in an interview with Independent.ie.
She went on to tell Independent.ie that she has full intentions of continuing with Muay Thai competitions and her intense training while balancing her school studies.
