Panicos Yusuf Joins the SANDEE Pro Fight Team

We are pleased to announce that the newest Pro Muay Thai Fighter to join the SANDEE Fight Team is Pancios Yusuf.

Panicos who originally hails from Cyprus, started Muay Thai in 2000 on the Mediterranean island, before making a permanent move to the UK in 2005, settling in  Manchester where he picked up his training with Manchester based instructor Paul Tite of Stockport Thai Fighters.

Panicos was always into any kind of sport at home in Cyprus, and after joining a weights gym saw an advert for Muay Thai, he joined the class and was hooked right away, and had his first fight after just 2 months, and then went on to represent Cyprus in the national team.

Fast forward to 2014 and Panicos is one of the UK’s well known fighters, currently ranked at number 2 in the UK with a pro Fight Record of 35 fights, and with only 3 pro losses to a tough Polish fighter from London early in his fight career and then big names Andy Thrasher, and Greg Wootton, currently ranked at number 1 at 63.5kg.

After his points loss to London based  Wootton,  Panicos decided he needed to up his clinch game and hooked up with  Liam Robinson, the Northampton based fighter and trainer and owner of Superpetch Muay Thai Academy in Northampton.

From there Panicos under Robinson has gone on to have an unbeaten win streak of 18 fighters over four years. Including some top Thai’s such as Rungnakorn Kharnpan, Petaek, Prathet Sor Thanikul, and recently Rittijak Kaewsamrit, who he says was his toughest fight to date.

Just another day in the office for Panicos Yusuf

The Manchester fighter now sees the clinch as one of his strongest areas with strong and several spells training in Thailand has sharpened all areas of his game.

Looking ahead to his next big fight at the Main Event, on Saturday the 7th June at the Bolton Arena, Panicos is set to face Dutch star Sergio Wielzen, after original opponent Darren O’Connor had to withdraw due to injury.

The original fight was set to be a highly anticpiated  contest with both fighters  O'Connor and Panicos ranked Number 1 and 2 respectively, but Panicos sees the replacement as a much harder fight for him.

“He’s better than Darren O’Connor” he states matter of a factly, “he’s faster and sharper, he’s a more dangerous opponent, he has an unorthodox style, and he’s tough, he knocked out Anuwat. Darren O’Connor wouldn't KO Anuwat, he  would probably get injured before he got in the ring with Anuwat”.

Panicos who thought about retiring to concentrate on his gym last year says he is happy to keep stepping in the ring as long as good fights at good money keep being offered, and so far that seems to keep happening.

“I can see myself fighting through to the end of 2016, and then maybe concentrate full time on my Gym and my own fighters”

Panicos along with his business partner, own and run All Powers Gym in Stockport with another location in Manchester City centre.  The gym has  a full timetable of Muay Thai, Boxing, fitness, and MMA with Ex UFC Fighter Brendan Loughnane.

All Powers Gym Instructors Panicos Yusuf and Brendan Loughnane

Is there another chance to get the O’connor fight matched again in the future?

“Darren O’Connor knows where i am, I’m here if he wants to fight me”.

Panicos Yusuf vs Sergio Wielzen takes place at the Main Event - Saturday 7th June at the Bolton Arena.

Panicos joins Pro Fighters, Daitan Jackson (Muay Thai), Pietro Menga (MMA), Keith McLachlan (Muay Thai) Joanne Calderwood (MMA) and Andrew Lofthouse (Muay Thai) as part of the SANDEE Pro Fight Team.