MONTHS of hard work and intense training paid off for three students who represented Hereford Muay Thai at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

Peter Koval, Ekachy Schmalisch and Todd Gray fought at a packed venue organised by Corefit gym.

Koval fought Shaun Jarrett of Evolution Muay Thai in what proved to be a head-to-head war of attrition.

Despite the intensity in the fight, Koval was calm in the fight and provided a solid display.

However, he lost the encounter on points.

Next up was Todd Gray, a 17-year-old who studied at Hereford Sixth Form College.

The teenager recently won a fight at Telford and stepped up a category for an eagerly awaited contest against Phil Bennett of Reaper Gym.

Reaper have proved to be a skilled club on the guidance of world champion Dean James and their coach Steve Broome.

Gray, who has attracted the attention of one of the UK's leading promoters, put in a classic Muay Thai display, ending the fight in one minute 29 seconds with a perfectly timed kick to Bennetts' ribs, causing a technical knockout.

Schmalisch and his opponent Shaun Robinson, of Corefit, both weighed in at 85kg, with Robinson fighting on home ground.

Schmalisch got off to a great start with powerful combinations of hands and kicks.

He showed fantastic skills and great cardiovascular strength by continually kicking to keep his opponent at bay/

The fight was eventually stopped in the third round.

Less than a week later, Gray was back in action, this time competing at The Tower in Birmingham.

The show was attended by 1,500 people, with the West Midlands Championship on the card.

Josh Coventry, of Russell Muay Thai Plymouth, saw two opponents pull out, but fought Gray after the Hereford fighter agreed to it despite carrying a slight injury.

Gray was initially six kilogrammes lighter than Coventry, but managed to get to 61kg in order for the bout to go ahead.

The Hereford fighter completely managed the contest with his hands and kicks and exhausted his opponent to win by a unanimous decision.

The event was screen by Sky Sports, which was due to screen it last weekend.

Gray, Koval and Schmalisch will next be in action at an event in Redditch on Sunday, May 3.

They will be joined by fellow Hereford Muay Thai students George Masters, Ryan Muffett and Krysz Ni,

The club is also open for people who want to get fit, learn self defence or for confidence building.

They train at Hinton Community Centre with all new equipment in partnership with South Wye Police Boxing Academy, run by Vince McNally and Richard Roberts.

For more information, visit herefordmuaythai.co.uk or call 07818 508763.