When 16 year-old Alejandra Cardoza started boxing, she was not looking for medals or trophies, just a fun way to keep fit and manage her weight. After one year of training in the art of Thai kickboxing called Muay (pronounced moo-ee) Thai, she not only mastered control over her weight, in February, she was named World Title Champion at Siam Fight Productions in Tempe.
But what really adds kick to her saga is Alejandra’s 15-year-old sister, Valeria Cardoza, also holds a title in Muay Thai and will be competing against Holland’s Georgina Van der Linden this month for her sister’s current title of World Title Champion.
“These girls are incredibly hard-working,” said Flagstaff native Mike Martinez, owner and trainer at Monster Fit gym where the Cardozas work out. “Every time they step into the ring they amaze me, they have so much potential. I’m so proud of them.”
Alejandra holds three titles and Valeria holds one.
Paula Ibieta, a volunteer for Siam Fight Productions, recalls Alejandra’s world title fight. “We never expected a girl from Flagstaff to beat a girl from Korea. She’s a very humble and focused fighter. She was totally the underdog. It was awesome to see Arizona take the world title.”
Ibieta added that she is excited to see Valeria’s fight.
The sisters are students at Flagstaff High School. Their priority is getting good grades. They also attend a youth group at their church, Harvest Christian Fellowship. Alejandra said, “It’s God who keeps me going and gives me strength.”
They have the highest respect for their trainer, Martinez, and consider the gym to be their second home.
Their father, Enrique, attends every competition. “Their fights can be a little scary at first. You see their competitors and evaluate them and wonder how my girls will do. But I just tell them to do their best and go for it.”
He recalls Alejandra’s bout with high school wrestling. “She beat everyone, except one boy.”
In the Greenlaw Shopping Center off Seventh Avenue, Monster Fit gym is a 1,400-square-foot training studio packed with pads, boxing bags, mirrors and scores of trophies.
“We have 16 to 20 champions ranging in ages nine to 22,” said Martinez, who has been in martial arts for more than 24 years. He has owned the studio since 2013 and will be expanding in the next six months.
Among the list of Monster Fit champions is Martinez’s oldest son, Antonio. At 14, he is a multiple champion titleholder for the U.S. Muay Thai and Thai Boxing Associations. “He’s had close to 200 fights and is in line for a professional contract when he turns 17,” said Martinez.
At age five, Martinez’s youngest son, Leandro, is the youngest competitor to fight in Muay Thai. He now has competed in more than 30 fights.
Another Monster Fit-trained champion is 13-year-old Inez Perez. She holds the title of World MT Alliance Regional Champion.
Muay Thai competitors are required to wear helmets and chin guards until they are 18 years old.
Although Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, sounds more like a menu entrée at a Thai restaurant than a martial art, it was once used as a close combat battlefield fighting skill and became more deadly than the weapons it replaced.
Muay Thai is also referred to as the “Art of Eight Limbs” because of the eight points of contact that the body mimics as weapons of war: hands, shins, forearms, elbows, legs, knees, feet and the body operating as one unit. Recognized as Thailand’s national sport, Muay Thai’s popularity remains strong in Thailand and is growing worldwide.
“You might say that Muay Thai is kick-boxing on adrenaline,” explained Martinez. “Muay Thai utilizes so many different moves.”
Martinez says Monster Fit creates champions by teaching respect, integrity and accountability. “Everyone who starts training is on a probationary period. They must fit in and get along with the team. We’re a big family and, as head coach and trainer, I’m the head of the family.”
He says some of his students are planning to make a career out of their sport. “We are giving them an extra outlet to be an athlete and an option to excel as an athletic professional.”
Alejandra says Muay Thai takes hard work and commitment, but adds that she loves the challenge and meeting people from around the world. “My goal is to become a professional. I would also like to go to school and work toward a degree in technical engineering or marine biology.” FBN
To contact Monster Fit, call 928-606-0384 or email at flagstaffmonsterfit@gmail.com. For information on Siam Fight Productions, visit www.siamfightproductions.com.
By Veronica Tierney
