The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS he looks to relocate in an effort to perfect his Muay Thai craft, DC Pratt is set to make his trek to Thailand for the second time this year to undergo elite level training in the sport.

In just under two weeks, Pratt will embark on a six-month stint in Thailand with renowned Muay Thai fighter and coach Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee.

Pratt underscored the differences he expects and improvements to his regimen this time around.

“The first time I didn’t know what to expect. Last time I only went for three months, this time the plan is to double that and go for six months this time around,” Pratt said. “There were a lot of other factors surrounding my stay that hampered it a bit and we won’t have those obstacles this time. At that time Thailand was going through the coup, it affected a lot of shows that I could have fought and others I expect to be apart of they were cancelled. This time there is more social stability and I’m looking to get a lot more fights in. Promoters were impressed with my performances the last time so if things go as planned, we expect a lot more appearances in the ring.”

Pratt won both of his fights during this summer’s training session in Thailand, the second of which was broadcasted live on Thai national television.

“There are a lot more things open to me now in terms of networking. I had two fights the last time and I’m looking forward to more this time around. I’m looking to have my first fight at the end of November, but what I really want is to fight December 5, on the birthday of King Rama IX. That is always a big event, and it will be great exposure for me,” he said.

Pratt returned home in July and has done his best to stay fight ready based on the recommendation of his Thai coaching staff, but is still looking to relocate permanently to a better training environment.

“My coach, he likes my boxing so he wanted me to focus on my kicks. In Thailand they score heavier for kicks and his advice was to work on my kicks, make them harder and faster,” Pratt said. “While I’ve been home I did my runs, stayed with my conditioning training with Strikers Boxing Club and trained with Team BeastMode. It is not on the level as Thailand, while it was good there is no structure for Muay Thai training.”

Pratt has turned to modelling to increase his profile and attract sponsors for the second edition of the camp and his development in the sport. He has done campaigns for Tempo Paris and was recently featured in Stylezine magazine.

“So far I have a few private sponsorships from my time in the US. Locally, there is Novice Construction, Bahamas Welding and Fire and National Fence Company,” he said. “Getting the sponsorship was not as hard as it was before just because people are starting to recognise me more and a lot of that is from the modelling, which was a part of my strategy. The modelling has started to pay off and sponsors are seeing they can use me.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, for two years before he moved back to the Bahamas, Pratt fought to a 3-1-1 amateur record since he made his Muay Thai debut in 2012. He opened the Bangkok Fight Night Atlanta Grand Prix event with a split decision over Clint Blizzard in the 160-pound weight class in that debut.

Last year, he won the IKF East Coast Championship in October 2013.

Disillusioned with frequent fight cancellations along with the struggle to find adequate bouts and training, he chose to relocate to the mecca of Muay Thai fighting.

“There were a lot of reasons I decided to go to Thailand, one of the main ones was that fights were falling through in the United States. I started to get frustrated and I didn’t want to be in the US just training, I wanted to be actively competing,” he said.