WKA 2009 Nationals Tournament

Richmond, VA 6-27-09

 

The WKA 2009 Nationals Tournament held on July 27, 2009 looked to have Sitan Gym Philadelphia's own Timothy Amorim compete to become the new North American Muay Thai Champion and to win a spot on the 2009 USA Team that will compete later this year in the WKA World Championship in Spain. Tim was competing in the 132 lbs division and actually came in to the official weigh-in, which was the day before, weighing in at 130 lbs.
 
The next morning when the brackets were made for the WKA 2009 Nationals Tournament, Tim only had one opponent in his division, Scott Sawade. With that said, they both were put on the brackets as going straight to the finals. later that day the WKA USA representative comes up to Rami Ibrahim, Owner of Sitan Gym Philadelphia location and informs him that there was a fighter from the 125 lbs division who was bumped up to the 132 lbs division and now has to fight Tim in the semi-finals and if Tim beats the first opponent than he'll go to the finals. Rami asked the WKA rep, "Why does Tim have to fight him and not his opponent?". The WKA rep replied to Rami, "We had a coin toss" and Rami replied to that saying "When you have a coin toss for anything, shouldn't both parties be there?" The WKA rep answered saying "Well, the other party was there", and Rami then said "I don't care about the other party. I wasn't there to choose heads or tails, but what ever. Its ok we'll do it." Rami did not want to make any problems and did not want to throw Tim off his game. That is why he accepted it, even though he was ready right then and there to take Tim out and head back home to Philadelphia after that shady of a move.
 
Shortly after that incident, Rami told Tim "Its ok we will fight the semi-final fight, beat that guy and it will only be that much sweeter when you over come the problem that is put in your way and still go to the finals". Rami than began preparing Tim for his semi-final fight. Tim fought a tough and skilled fighter from Cool Hearts Muay Thai camp also out of Philadelphia, PA. Tim's opponent showed some strong low kicks, however, Tim overwhelmed him with his powerful right cross and right middle kicks. Tim won that bout by unanimous decision and was right back in the finals again.
 
Going to the final bout, Tim's right fist was swollen, his left thigh was bruised from the kicks in his previous fight and his right instep was badly hurt as well from executing many middle kicks in the previous fight that day. Before the final fight, Rami took Tim to an empty area in the fight venue and gave him a long speech. Rami wanted to remind Tim how important this was, not only for Timothy Amorim, but also for Sitan Gym Philadelphia and why he should ignore all the pain he is in. "Six minutes Tim. Six minutes and you become the new WKA United States Champion. People tried to put bumps in our path, but we got through them together and that's why we are in the finals. Your opponent might be fresh but he is stepping in that ring alone. Your stepping in with me, he's stepping in there alone, so its 2 against 1. Lets do this man, lets go make history." And that he did. Scott Sawade, was the toughest fighter Tim ever fought. With that said Tim beat him believing in his jab and his lead leg middle kick, making history that night not only for him self but also by becoming the first official champion for Rami Ibrahim and Sitan Gym Philadelphia's location. He is now the WKA U.S. champion and on the 2009 USA Team going on to the World Championship in Spain. This is in the books for ever.