PEP GUARDIOLA’s stars float like a butterfly and sting like a Manchester bee.
That’s the opinion of Rick Lewis, former two-time British Muay Thai champion and father of 19-year-old Man City teenage sensation Rico Lewis.
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‘Kru Rick’ has trained in all walks of life and he reckons that Guardiola has the qualities of a “cold killer” and that Phil Foden has the perfect constitution to become a Muay Thai champion.
Rick’s journey into martial arts began in the 1980s and he learned his craft from renowned trainer Grandmaster Sken, who even trained Foden as a young man.
He now owns Phoenix Muay Thai in Whitefield, Manchester, which has become a beating heart for the community around it.
Rick said: “I would love to do a session with Pep, just to see how he reacts to the instructions.
“It’s not about skill. I’m sure a lot of people would choose Erling Haaland, but I’d like to see what Pep can do.
“I think he would be a cold, meticulous killer, he would want to do everything right.
“Every punch and kick would be right in the middle. He would be strong, with his guard up and would not give up.
“Foden would be the best fighter after Rico because he has already done it and trained with the same person as me.
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“He’s got the right build for it too. I hope I can put Phil and Rico to the test one day!”
Phoenix Muay Thai is full of character, with not only punching bags, a ring and title belts on display, but also LED lights and speakers as a “nightclub” to keep the fighters motivated.
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A workout with Rick Lewis
SUNSPORT’s Isabelle Barker was tested by former British Muay Thai champion Rick Lewis, father of Manchester City star Rico. Here’s your grueling workout…
- We started by using what looked like a medieval torture contraption to stretch the legs and help with flexibility when kicking.
- Rick started by practicing roundhouse kicks with me, as kicks are an integral part of Muay Thai and score more than punches in a fight.
- Then, we started to prepare the kicks with punches such as jab, cross and hook, as well as feints.
- Rick even managed to get me to do a question mark kick, which is a deceptive technique used to trick your opponent into thinking you’re attacking from below, but in fact your intended target is high.
- We finish with some combinations involving punches, low kicks, alternating kicks and kicks to the head.
Rick opened the gym in Bury in 2001 and three years later, on the day Rico was born, on November 21, 2004, he hung up his gloves.
Rick added: “Something came out of me instantly when he was born.
“I looked at him and thought it was very selfish to go in the ring and get beat up. I don’t know how people do it.”
That hasn’t stopped Rico and his younger sister Sacha, who is now 16 and also plays for City’s academy, from following in their father’s footsteps.
Rico began training at just two years old before fighting for the first time at three, with a boy twice his age and size – something he would do on the field.
Rick remembers freezing when his son entered the ring, as he knows the brutal side of Muay Thai all too well.
Something came out of me instantly when he was born. I looked at him and thought it was very selfish to go into the ring and get hit. I don’t know how people do it.
Rick Lewis
The sport is known as the art of eight limbs and at the highest level includes elbows and knees to the head.
The former British champion once broke his arm when he was kicked in the fourth round of a fight before coming out to win.
Rick said: “Rico’s debut was horrible, nothing came out of my mouth.
“One of the other guys had to take over. But when Sacha started, I know it sounds really bad, but I was used to my kids being spanked!
“I was happy Rico switched to football. I’m so happy he never fought with elbows and knees.”
Rico joined City’s academy at the age of eight and has an unbeaten streak of 30 fights.
He is extremely humble for a young man who won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble with City before he turned 19.
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His character on the field was shaped within the four walls of Phoenix Muay Thai and under the guidance of his father.
Rick’s gym is named after the Phoenix because it rose from the ashes, starting small and becoming what it is today – similar to Rico’s journey with City.
And Rick is like any proud father, who kept Rico grounded while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish.
When Rico became the youngest player to score in his first Champions League match, aged 17, in the 3-1 win over Sevilla last year, Rick brought all the newspapers he could.
He said: “I bought all the newspapers from Bury Tesco. I spent £45 on newspapers!
I was happy that Rico switched to football. I’m so glad he never fought with elbows and knees.
Rick Lewis
“A woman who worked there called security because they thought I was up to something. They thought there was a protest or something going on.”
Rico still trains Muay Thai with his father, especially during the pre-season, hitting pads and participating in physical exercises such as the beep test.
You can see the fighter inside him when he is thrown to the ground by players twice his size.
Rick added: “He’s only 19, people don’t remember that. They criticize him, but to me he’s still a baby.
“He is kicked on the ground, but he jumps again and recovers the ball.
“I think Muay Thai made him prepared and ready to be trained by Pep.
“He was only in the ring when he fought and that helped him a lot.”
Man City’s five key moments this season
A look at five key moments from Man City’s title-winning campaign…
- Luton 1 – 2 Manchester City: City recovered from a four-game winless run to begin their unbeaten run.
- Newcastle 2-3 Man City: Kevin De Bruyne returns from injury to come off the bench and inspire a late comeback against the Magpies.
- Man City 3-1 Man Utd: Phil Foden delivers a masterclass as City set a milestone in their title ambitions and overtake their local rivals in the process.
- Man City 0-0 Arsenal: A goalless draw which, whilst disappointing, meant City were still keeping pace with the teams around them and could maintain their position in the title race. A defeat could have put Arsenal out of sight of the Cityzens.
- Man City 4 x 1 Aston Villa: After consecutive draws against title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, City bounced back with a thumping of Unai Emery’s Villa to keep the pressure on the Gunners.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
