Ramnarine fights for world title in Canada

TRINIDAD and Tobago kickboxing queen Ria Ramnarine will step into the ring in Sun Centre, Calgary, Canada on November 8 to oppose Erin “Nitro” Linley for the Women International Kick Boxing Association (WIKBA) World Muay Thai title.

The Carapichaima resident will leave Trinidad on Wednesday for the fight (which is entitled “Battle At The Base”) along with coach Bharath Ramoutar, who also serves as president of the Trinidad and Tobago Kick Boxing Federation (TTKBF). Standing five feet five inches and weighing 108 pounds, Ramnarine will be a handy proposition for Linley, who has a current record of 15 wins and two losses from her 17 bouts. Ramoutar noted that his charge has been in intense training for the past eight weeks, despite a recent setback for the flu. “Right now she is 70 percent ready but, by (this) week, she should be at 100 percent,” said Ramoutar.

Both Ramoutar and Ramnarine have seen Linley in action three years ago and they label her as “tough.” But the coach is adamant that while it is “the biggest fight of her career,” Ramnarine ”has a very good chance of winning.” No stranger to the ring, the local kickboxing lass is also ranked eighth in the flyweight division at the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA). Member of the WIKBA Board of Directors and local representative Martin McClachie revealed that negotiations are still ongoing with regards to the purse Ramnarine will collect at the end of the bout. However, he is optimistic that, with Ramnarine’s achievements, there will be more opportunities for female boxers and kickboxers to earn fights on the international circuit.