Next stop in our interview series is pro Muay Thai fighter and fight manager Amy of Pretty Top Team!
[My advice to new Muay Thai fighters would] be more afraid of opportunities missed than coming up short. Growth is uncomfortable. No one wins all the time, but I’ll never regret taking a hard fight or putting myself outside of my comfort zone.
Amy is a remarkable professional Muay Thai fighter who has made an impressive mark in the sport. Starting her journey as an amateur, Amy has competed in 14 fights, showcasing her dedication, skill, and passion for Muay Thai. Beyond her personal achievements in the ring, Amy continue to train under the guidance of Paul Hosking, the owner and head coach of Pretty Top Team in Cairns, Queensland despite moving to Brisbane. With her unwavering commitment and the support of her esteemed coach, Amy continues to rise in the ranks of Muay Thai, inspiring many along the way.
Can you tell us about your journey from starting as an amateur to becoming a successful Muay Thai fighter?
Paul loves this story! I had been training under Paul with his fighters for maybe a year when I started asking about having a fight. Paul pushed back on this notion for ages. To be fair, when I started training Muay Thai, I was rough. I've never been one of those athletes that things come naturally to, every skill I've acquired in Muay Thai has come through hours and hours of focused work. I'll never be the most technical fighter, but I'll out work anyone in the room. And through some misguided over confidence, I knew I would be good at this, so I kept asking him to match me every local show that came up.
He finally relented. My first fight was great, everything he had been drilling into me came out. As soon as I got back stage after winning that first fight he asked me if I wanted to go again in four weeks. I've remained very active since then racking up 14 fights in 3 years. I put my hand up for every opportunity that came about. After just four fights I was taking FTR fights with no elbow pads. Paul loves telling people how I proved him wrong.
What is "The Pretty Process," and how has it contributed to your success in Muay Thai?
The Pretty Process is a very structured, yet tailored approach to each fighter's development. It is not a one size fits all style of training, nor a coach training their fighters to fight the way they do. It is working out the individual's strengths and mindset and training them in the style that will best suit them and come through most naturally. Of Paul's two female champs, myself and Jessie, our styles couldn't be more different. I could never be successful fighting the way Jessie does and vice versa. I think the proof is in the pudding that he has been able to train both of us from the ground up to be very successful with vastly different styles.
How did you first get involved with Paul Hosking and Pretty Top Team?
I had been boxing at a gym that closed down and came to the gym Paul was coaching at by chance. I had intended to continue with boxing, but somehow ended up in Muay Thai classes. I had been training with him for a year and a bit when him and Frankie opened Pretty Muay Thai. I was one of the founding members and the gym will always feel like home for me.
What are some of the most significant challenges you faced when transitioning from an amateur to a professional fighter?
I moved to Brisbane in 2023. I've remained connected to the gym and I still fight under Pretty's banner and Paul as my coach and corner. He continues to invest in my development. Muay Thai without Pretty doesn't make sense to me. The first 12 months were challenging to navigate what that looked like while living in another city. It can be very isolating and I often feel like I'm missing out. I've been fortunate to land at a great gym down here now, Voodoo Combat. They are happy to work with Paul and help me implement his instructions in fight camp. This all came about the year I went pro and I think it has been my most significant challenge.
Can you describe a typical training session at Pretty Top Team under Paul Hosking's guidance?
Waking up before dawn! The fighters train at 6:00 starting with 5-10 min skipping. 5x3 min bag rounds while someone comes down the row for 10 kicks each side. We move onto drills after that, learning a technique and working it out with a partner, which usually transitions into sparring. Fight class does clinching everyday. Finishing off with conditioning in the form of 300 teeps, 300 jumping knees, abs and stomach punches or Thai slaps and then finally an Annee's coffee to reward a hard sesh.
How has your training and strategy evolved since you began working with Paul Hosking and undergoing "The Pretty Process"?
I turned a corner in my training when Paul started putting a huge focus on footwork drills. I remember standing in the driveway in the rain stepping left, right, forward, back while he called out directions, drilling my feet, thinking he was taking the piss out of me. We did this for weeks, and my feet got better. My agility and footwork in the ring is a huge part of my success. It comes down to the most basic fact, if your base isn't good, nothing else will be good.
What has been the most memorable fight in your career so far, and why?
Probably my last fight, fight number 14 in Adelaide. This was the first fight I was genuinely a bit scared to accept. Shannon is a local legend and I first saw her when I was an amateur and she was on the pro card and she broke a girl's orbital bone. Since then I've held her in high esteem, so taking her on as an opponent was very daunting. I put so much into my training and prep for this fight. I've never enjoyed a win as much as I have this one because it's been such an amazing payoff for my efforts. Making Paul proud always a special feeling and seeing him enjoy the win as much as me is a great memory.
How do you balance the physical and mental demands of being a professional Muay Thai fighter?
Balancing the demands of our sport is something that requires constant effort, and whenever I stop putting that attention to it, it will slip very quickly. To look after the physical aspect, I care for my recovery, it has to be part of my training, one of the non negotiables like showing up, to stretch, to do massage/dry needling, get in the ice bath, sleep well.
Balancing the mental side can be more challenging. When I’m prepping for a fight, there’s daily homework outside of my training. The film study, visualising, listening to my hypnosis, additional drilling. I think the balance comes from allowing myself that mental break after a fight, applying focus to other things for a spell and enjoying the ease of that weight coming off. My full time job can be pretty demanding, I make it a rule to not take any work home with me. When I clock off, I’m on my time and give myself space to apply my focus to what I want to be focusing on.
What advice would you give to other female fighters looking to follow a similar path to yours?
I have three pieces of advise that I stand by; my best advise would be to not undervalue the importance of consistency. Starting as an absolute beginner can be so overwhelming, but if you practise something consistently, one way or another you will improve at it. You will learn something. Showing up consistently is the biggest favour you can do early in your Muay Thai career. Secondly, investing in one’s mental health early on. Looking after your mind, dealing with your anxieties and insecurities rather than trying to pushing them down. And lastly, to be more afraid of opportunities missed than coming up short. Growth is uncomfortable. No one wins all the time, but I’ll never regret taking a hard fight or putting myself outside of my comfort zone. I don’t want to ever look back at my career and feel like I missed out on something, or didn’t do as much as I could have.
How do you see your career progressing in the next few years, and what are your ultimate goals in Muay Thai?
My next big goal is to get to 20 fights. Twenty fights would be a great milestone. I feel like I would like to compete under boxing discipline at some point, as well.
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