Meet 'Ms Dynamite' Ione Pugh - the explosive Muay Thai fighter with the world at her feet
12-year-old Ione Pugh is making a name for herself in the sport of Muat Thai!
Dynamite by name and dynamite by nature - an accolade befitting Ione Pugh following her explosive emergence on the Muay Thai scene!
Aged just 12, the Brookfield Community School pupil already has a stellar reputation in the sport, also known as Thai Boxing.
Challengers have come and gone at both home and abroad as Ione, whose fight name is ‘Ms Dynamite’, stamps her authority in the combat arena.
And what makes her impressive development even more satisfying, well, it’s a sport the youngster enjoys with the whole family. Indeed, twin sister Elvie, who is also known as ‘Little Phoenix’ is a distinguished Muay Thai fighter in her own right too. Mum and dad Aaron and Ciara also train in the traditional martial art, while older sister Orla showed no prisoners in the sport before pursuing her passion for acting.
Muay Thai remains Ione’s passion, however, and it’s abundantly clear why.
Major victories at the 2023 Sandee Open, the 2025 Sandee Southern Novice with Elvie, the ISKA British Open in 2025 and 2026, plus a gold-medal-winning performance at the Amazing World Muay Thai Festival in Bangkok back in June while representing WBC Team England means the Fierce Muay Thai, Fareham, fighter is a force to be reckoned with.
That status has also earned Ione an invite to the inaugural WBC Muay Thai Rising Stars Series in London next month, which has been set up to recognize the dedication, commitment, sportsmanship, and accomplishments of the next generation of MuayThai stars.
That dedication is nurtured under the watchful eye of Fierce Muay Thai head coach Paul Massey and his assistant Vanessa Massey, who both pour everything into their pool of junior fighters. It is also aided by the hard-working, supportive and disciplined kids who work alongside Ione and Elvie at the gym.
Ione’s sponsors can’t be forgotten either, with Muay Thai Royalty, High Score Arcades, Event Squared and Everyone Active Sporting Champions, playing an important role in her emergence as one of the sports most respected up and coming talents,
Ione, we wish you well next month in London!