FIGHTERS from Hammer’s Gym know how to put the hammer down in the ring, as Chris Harrington and Dave Baschinar proved recently. At an event billed the “Warrior’s Way”, results went the right way for the two Muay Thai fighters from the Blackburn gym, the pair taking home two titles from the event at the Shoppingtown Hotel in Doncaster.
Baschinar took on a more experienced fighter Kenny Oo and earned the win, despite breaking his hand in the fourth round of the bout. A Blackburn local, the 30-year-old has trained at the gym since 1998 and, despite starting his career later than most, now holds the East Coast and Victorian International Kickboxing Federation titles, with a record of 6-2. Harrington took a big step forward in his fledgling career, taking the World Muay Thai Council’s Victorian Title with a win against Stuart Bonar.
The rangy 23-year-old fighter, nicknamed “the Butcher”, took his career record to 7-0 with the win. Hammer’s Gym head instructor, and the two fighters’ trainer, Mark Castagnini, said Harrington’s nickname was more instructive than most. “He’s a butcher by trade, that’s how he got the nickname,” he said. “Chris is undefeated, because of that he earned a shot at the state title.
The WMC is the most recognised Muay Thai governing body in the world. “He is a very dedicated student, he trains five or six days a week. That’s an awesome effort. He has to be up for work early, but he’s still at the gym at nine or 10 o’clock at night. He won a very prestigious title, which is recognised nationally and internationally. “David is a very dedicated martial artist. After he broke his hand in the fourth round, we came up with a strategy to get him through the fight.
He went the distance. It was a very skilful display and there was a lot of heart and focus and determination on his behalf.” Although the broken hand will keep Baschinar out of action for six-to-eight weeks, both fighters will be fielding plenty of offers in the coming months, as people come after their belts. Castagnini praised his charges’ efforts in taking the titles. “There were big odds against the boys, but they made the gym very proud. I’m very proud of their efforts and their character. They’re good fighters but they’re also good people,” he said.
