REPORT BY: JAMES BOVINGTON

HORSFORTH Thai boxer Finlay Smith has just reached the final of a major professional tournament in Paris where he narrowly lost to a Spanish champion having beaten the French champion at his weight in the semi-final.

“It’s what we call an A class professional tournament. It’s a high level. I’m delighted at how far I got but I was exhausted after a very tough semi-final against last year’s champion, French fighter Daren Rolland,” stated Smith. ‘

“That’s how tournaments go. I felt proud that people were cheering me as I left.”

Twenty-year-old Leeds University and former Horsforth School student Smith trains at Bad Company on York Road run by his parents Lisa and Richard.

“Finlay won the hearts of the French crowd at La Belle Equipe,” said Lisa.

It’s an annual promotion held at Montmartre’s La Cigale theatre and combines fights with DJ music sessions this year featuring Kavinski, Breakbot and Irfan.

Smith joined French, Spanish and Cambodian fighters in a four-man tournament following fully professional rules. Unlike boxing with its rigid codes, in Muay Thai amateur and professional refers to the rule set with fighters switching as opportunities present.

Smith had the least professional experience of the four, but he certainly rose to the occasion, pulling off a huge shock with a comfortable points win.

His mother, Lisa added: “Rolland had left his mark though and a battered and bruised Finlay faced Spaniard Mario Alvarez in the final. Alvarez had an easy first fight, finishing his Cambodian opponent in the first round. This made a difference in the final.

“Both fighters started strong, matching knees and punches. Finlay was dropped by a body shot in the second but got up to finish the round.

“Both fighters looked for the KO in round three, but were too skilled to let the other in. Alvarez took a close points decision but as the least experienced and youngest in the tournament, Finlay received the biggest applause.”

Reflecting on his performances across the tournament, Smith said: “I’ve mixed emotions about the fights.

“I’m delighted to have beaten Daren Rolland, who is an amazing fighter. I was disappointed though to lose to Alvarez so closely. If I hadn't been so banged up from the first fight, I think I could have thrown more.

“That's the luck of tournaments though and Alvarez was a really strong opponent. The whole experience was amazing. The promoters provided us with a fantastic experience.

It was a challenge climbing the Eiffel Tower the following day, though,” Smith joked.