In the world of Thai boxing, you hear the name Pele and you automatically associate it withone of the greatest Thai boxers to ever come out of the Manchester area – Keith ‘Pele’ Nathan. Pele has for many, many years opted to stay out of the limelight, preferring to be if you like a man in the shadows. He has carved for himself an absolutely tremendous career at world level in Thai boxing and then went on to create world champions of his own. From his ‘Beastmaster’ gym in Altrincham in Cheshire, time and time again, men, women and children are honed to perfection with the skills that Pele possesses to become British, International and World Champions.

EVERY year many students who successfully graduate from Edge Hill find excellent jobs, but few go on to become a world champion in their chosen sport. Kevin Harper left Edge Hill in 1998 after completing his Postgraduate Certificate in Education. This February he beat the former champion Gultekin Ergun in Reading to take the World Kickboxing Association Super Welterweight (11 stone) title in the World Championship Thai boxing bout.

TOP Thai boxing prospect Steve Donnelly has changed stables, hoping to give his career in the ring a boost. Donnelly, of Blackley, had been a fixture of Beastmaster’s Gym in Altrincham since taking up the sport a decade ago. But his form slumped towards the end of last year and he decided he needed a change for his training.


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