On Friday, July 1, Reginald “The Disciple” Carter, fighting out of Maisonet’s Muay Thai gym in Tobyhanna, competed in Freedom Fighter Promotion’s 8-man Grand Prix tournament, making it to the finals.
Reginald “The Disciple” Carter has been practicing Muay Thai for three years. Carter was given the fight name “The Disciple” by his instructor, Kru Yod Hamzah Maisonet, who describes Carter as very hardworking and devoted, saying, “I gave him the name the Disciple because he earned that name.” After freedom 6, Carter stands with a record of
11-3, 7 by way of knockout, the 26-year-old fighter holds two champion titles in the 140lb division from the NYC Fight TV and AKBF leagues.
Fighting in the Freedom 6 event at the Grand Roosevelt Ballroom in Yonkers, New York, Carter put his skills to the test in the USA’s first Muay Thai “8-Man World Grand Prix” in over a decade for the Freedom World Champion Belt. Coming in with the least experience, Carter won his first two fights against two rising stars in the Muay Thai world, Alec Enright from Maximus Muay Thai and Jordan Wilson from Trampa Muay Thai, advancing him to the finals. This tournament consisted of fighters on a national and international level competing in the 135lb weight division. For the finals, Carter faced off against Dillan Joucoo, a polished veteran of the Muay Thai game with a total of 42 fights. During the match, “The Disciple” displayed clean Muay Thai, dominating the fight and hitting Joucoo with a clean body shot, knocking him down and resulting in a standing 8 count in the 2nd round. Beating the count, Joucoo stood up near the bell, and the fight entered its final round. In the last 25 seconds of the fight, Joucoo came back, catching Carter with a left hook and knocking him down. As the referee counted down, Carter battled to stand up, eventually succeeding, but at that moment, the referee decided to call an end to the fight.
Also fighting in the Freedom 6 event was Maisonet’s own JJ “Hollywood” Veramendi. Veramendi has been practicing Muay Thai for two and a half years. As of freedom 6, his record stands 9-2, 4 by way of knockout. The 23-year-old fighter holds three champion titles in the 205lb division from the USKA, ECF, and NYC Fight TV leagues. Looking to add to that collection, Veramendi dropped weight to compete for the 187lb USA Freedom Champion title against his opponent, Cody Quarles, fighting out of Maximus Muay Thai in Roselle, Illinois. Battling it out, the Maisonet fighter sustained a rib injury which led to him coming up short.
For over 30 years, Kru Yod Hamzah Maisonet has trained with some of the best Muay Thai professionals in the business. Fighting as “The Great Scorpion,” Maisonet’s experience includes competing worldwide, holding over ten combined titles in the middle, welterweight, and lightweight weight divisions, ranking as a professional 2-time World champion, and so much more. With a Muay Thai record of 70-2, 43 by way of knockout, Maisonet’s experience proves invaluable in teaching. Certified by Kruu Yodtong Senannan’s Sityodtong Muay Thai Boxing Camp, south of Bangkok, in 1995, Kru Yod Hamzah would go on to teach over 50 champions, many of which have won multiple titles. Owning three gyms in Pennsylvania, New York, and Mexico, Maisonet currently teaches with his son, Kruu Brandon Maisonet, at his gym in Tobyhanna. Kru Yod Hamzah was happy with his fighter’s performances at freedom 6. “Maisonet’s Muay Thai did what we always do, put on a show cause win, lose, or draw, you’re in for a rumble. For they call us the hired guns cause we shy from no one, no matter the experience because you’re only as good as your resume,” said Maisonet. “At the end of the day, this show was amazing, and Freedom Fighter Promotion throws shows like no other. It’s always an honor, and we can’t wait to go back in. I say this cause we win as a team and lose as a team. It’s not about how good you are. It’s about how many little mistakes you make.”
Kruu Brandon “The Purple Scorpion “Maisonet comes from a family of fighters. Training under his father since his youth, Kruu Brandon currently teaches and fights professionally. Bringing the experience of over 20 years of Muay Thai and 113 fights, Kruu Brandon holds champion titles from the WKA, IFMA, USMTA, and USKBA leagues, including two world titles. Kruu Brandon teaches along with Kru Yod Hamzah at the Tobyhanna gym, and both worked in their fighter’s corners at freedom 6.
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