Troi Coleman is now a big hit in Thailand
Coleman…fought a Cuban legend last time out
THE career of Troi Coleman – the middle from Burntwood, Staffordshire – has taken an extraordinary turn.
“The Hawk” was last seen in a British ring in December, 2020, when River Wilson-Bent despatched him with possibly the punch of the year.
Quite a lot has happened since then, things that West Midlands fans are possibly unaware of.
Following the first defeat of his career, the 27-year-old upped sticks to Ko Sumui, a paradise island in the gulf of Thailand.
And, boxing wise, he’s doing very well for himself. Coleman has had four fights in Pathum Thani, a town in central Thailand. He’s won them all – and all by stoppage.
What’s more, last October Troi captured the WBC Asian Boxing Council middleweight crown. Opponent Apisit Sangmuang was stopped in the seventh.
I find it incredible that Staffordshire now has a claim on an Asian title.
There are those who will say Thailand isn’t known for its middleweights, but even the naysayers have to applaud Coleman for rolling the dice and embarking on a real boxing adventure.
Troi is coming off a loss, however.
On March 10, he took the show to Dubai and was outpointed over eight rounds by Cuban southpaw Yan Marcos, a light-middle.
That’s a fine result. Marcos is a former outstanding amateur who has now won all eight pro fights, six by stoppage. Coleman has lost two of 12.
After the scrap, Troi posted: “Man, what a fight and experience! When I looked at my opponent when it was offered I actually thought, ‘he’s levels above me from what I’m watching, but he might just bring that level out in me so let’s roll the dice and go and ruin the party’!
“Second time fighting a southpaw, first time ever doing eight rounds, first time at 154 pounds, right into the lion’s den - new country, new surroundings against the Number One Cuban prospect who had stopped all his previous bar one, who he dropped twice...and, man, I felt right at home in there! He was class. I had to be smart, stay composed and earn respect in there and I did just that.
“This is all part of learning on the job. Don’t sleep on me - I’m not even half way to my ceiling yet. Hawk season!”
From Burntwood to Bangkok champ. If that’s not a story just waiting to be made I don’t know what is.