Mark Fowler, 35, collapsed in front of spectators after fighting five rounds on Saturday night and failed to regain consciousness. He died on Monday afternoon of head injuries.
Mr Fowler, a British citizen who lived in Australia, was the World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai Lightweight champion for New South Wales.
Graham Annesley, the New South Wales sports minister, has ordered an inquiry into the death, which occurred after a NSW World Muay Thai Council event in Sydney's south-west.
"I have also instructed the Office of Communities to implement any additional precautions considered necessary to ensure all similar upcoming events fully comply with current legislation and safety requirements," Mr Annesley said.
The death will also be investigated by the coroner.
Unlike traditional boxing matches, opponents who take part in Muay Thai are allowed to use their fists, feet, knees and elbows. As a result, the sport is considered especially dangerous.
Thai kick-boxing is currently self-regulated in Australia, but following Mr Fowler's death, members of Muay Thai organisations have called for more stringent rules.
Parmorn Martdee, the Asia Pacific president of the WBC Muay Thai, said that while ambulances and doctors attended each fight, there was no legal requirement to conduct brain scans of participants before and after the event or to implement other safety standards.
"It is very sad what happened to Mark," he told the Australian newspaper.
"It is a contact sport and as such, our organisation is self-regulated, but there can never be enough regulation."
Mr Fowler won the WBC Muay Thai NSW Lightweight Title in March. He is described on the World Boxing Council Muay Thai website described as one of the sport's "brightest stars".
In a statement on the WBC Muay Thai website, Mr Martdee said he was "a champion in every sense of the word".
"(He was) a keen sportsman always with a smile, you could just tell he was passionate about Muay Thai and life.
"In the ring he was a force to be reckoned with".
Fans and colleagues paid tribute to Mr Fowler on the International Kickboxer forum.
"The death is an absolute tragedy – a loss to friends and family and a shock to the fight sports community," forum member Steve P said.
By Bonnie Malkin taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8706238/British-kick-boxing-champion-dies-in-Sydney-fight.html
Thai kick-boxing is currently self-regulated in Australia, but following Mr Fowler's death, members of Muay Thai organisations have called for more stringent rules.
Parmorn Martdee, the Asia Pacific president of the WBC Muay Thai, said that while ambulances and doctors attended each fight, there was no legal requirement to conduct brain scans of participants before and after the event or to implement other safety standards.
"It is very sad what happened to Mark," he told the Australian newspaper.
"It is a contact sport and as such, our organisation is self-regulated, but there can never be enough regulation."
Mr Fowler won the WBC Muay Thai NSW Lightweight Title in March. He is described on the World Boxing Council Muay Thai website described as one of the sport's "brightest stars".
In a statement on the WBC Muay Thai website, Mr Martdee said he was "a champion in every sense of the word".
"(He was) a keen sportsman always with a smile, you could just tell he was passionate about Muay Thai and life.
"In the ring he was a force to be reckoned with".
Fans and colleagues paid tribute to Mr Fowler on the International Kickboxer forum.
"The death is an absolute tragedy – a loss to friends and family and a shock to the fight sports community," forum member Steve P said.
By Bonnie Malkin taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8706238/British-kick-boxing-champion-dies-in-Sydney-fight.html
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