Niam Griffen of Jitti Gym became the first foreign woman to beat the Thais at Muay Thai when she won the Intercontinental Kickboxing Woman's Junior Featherweight Championship.

   Niam Griffin, 22, from Cork, knocked out her Thai opponent Satanfa Mormuangchum, 16, with a powerful knee to the stomuch in the fourth round. Satanfa was helped from the ring and only regained consciousness 10 minutes later.

   Up until that point, Satanfa had dominated the fight, but Griffen charged out of her corner in the fourth and penultimate round determined toerase a points deficit.   

   Griffen was ecstatic at her victory, but paid tribute to her opponent.  "It was very difficult, she was really strong," she said.

   Griffen won a purse of around 20,000 bath and a gold champion's belt. Griffen has been training at Jitti Gym for about one year belt.