YORK fighter Richard Cadden has defied the odds to become World Thai-boxing light-welterweight champion.

Cadden, 29, defeated experienced Iranian opponent Mohammed Rham-Pho after the judges' unanimous points decision settled a fight that was screened live on Thai Channel Five and beamed out to 150 countries across the world.

The three-round, 15-minute World Professional Muaythai Federation contest was also watched by a crowd of 9,000 fans - most of whom had expected the former Manor School pupil to be soundly beaten.

Cadden said: "My opponent had been boxing in Thailand for the last six years and has about 40 professional fights under his belt. He had come down from one weight category and I had moved up one to get the fight and, before it started, the crowd were holding up their thumb and little finger and shaking their head because of the difference in our size.

"All the betting was in his favour but midway through the fight they started laying money on me and, when I won, the Thai crowd were great.

"They were fans who really appreciate the sport, not supporters of each fighter, and they appreciated good techniques and skills."

Cadden has been Thai-boxing for ten years and trains in Leeds at the Bad Company Gym.

He also has a coach in Thailand at the Jitti Gym and travels to the Far East at least once a year.

The York fighter's previous world title attempt ended in defeat when a cut eye curtailed his challenge.

But, having won the European belt in June and been the UK's number one lightweight for the last five years, he was given "a second bite of the cherry" when the 65-70 kilogrammes title belt became vacant.

Cadden will now be required to defend his belt within six months and plans to jet out to Thailand in February to train, find a challenge and fight before the April deadline.

Despite being a professional, Cadden still has to juggle his world champion commitments with a full-time job as a technical engineer for Fastline.

He only received £100 for his Thailand triumph in a sport where elbows and knees to the head are a regular occupational hazard.

Compared to world champion boxers, the financial rewards are minute and Cadden, while not resentful, admits to being a little envious.

"I'm not in the sport to make money," he said. "I do it for the love of Thai-boxing and have dedicated myself to the sport for the last ten years.

"It has strong Buddhist origins and I don't expect to make a living out of it. I might make about £800 from my next fight as champion which in Thailand is also several months' earnings for many people.

"I don't resent boxers but it's frustrating when you see British titles being fought for £30,000 and it would be nice if there was a bit more money in Thai-boxing."

Updated: 09:59 Saturday, November 19, 2005