YORK’S thriving mixed martial arts fraternity was given a huge slap on the back – and encouragement to widen its grip.

Liam Harrison, four-time winner of world Thai-boxing titles, was the special guest of honour at the Ring Series III show at York’s Energise centre, where a sell-out 500-plus audience witnessed 11 contests.

Making his first visit to York to watch either a Cage Confrontation programme or Ring Series show co-promoted by Tony Dias and Gaz Watkinson of the United Masters Promotions, Harrison declared that York was well and truly on the map as a burgeoning martial arts stronghold.

But the man who has fought across the globe winning world title belts in Italy and Thailand, the sport’s spiritual home, and England insisted there were opportunities for York combatants to emulate his example if they were prepared to travel.

Harrison has spent the last several months travelling from his Bad Company gym base in Leeds to coach fighters at the Legions Thai Boxing Club run by Dave Phillips and Al Chambers at Fifth Avenue, according the world champion a close-up view of York’s strength.

“The jobs that clubs like Legions and United Masters are doing in York is superb,” said Harrison, who has a record of 74 victories from 89 fights en route to collecting no fewer than four world crowns.

“It’s a 500-plus sell-out here (at Energise) and it could well be that York could stage shows for upwards of 1,000 people because the interest is here.

“The other thing now is that coaches like Dave (Phillips) are getting their fighters out from York on to other shows across the country. That’s what you have to do to grow the sport.”

Of his own stellar Thai-boxing career Harrison – who won his first world title in Italy as a 19-year-old in 2004 – said he realised he would have to travel the world to hit the heights.

“You’ve got to get out there because at the level you want to be you can’t just remain in England,” said Harrison, a former promising semi-pro footballer for Farsley Celtic, who, at the age of 18, decided to hang up his boots for an all-out assault on the professional Thai-boxing circuit.

“I have seen the world, which has been a big boost for me, fighting in places like Italy, Cambodia, Thailand, Jamaica and Japan.

“So as long as fighters are prepared to put in the effort then there are ways for them to progress through the ranks. They have to want to do it, but if they do then they can go for it.”

Phillips, who revealed Harrison cornered his first fight several years ago, added how having the world champion come to Legions to train the next generation of fighters was a huge morale-booster.

“It’s massive to have someone of Liam’s calibre come to the club. All his sessions are booked out from the start of the day to the last minute,” he said.

Harrison has also been boosted by sponsorship from SAY Scaffolding, run by Phil Wetton, who is also a member of the national WAKO martial arts board.

Said Wetton, whose daughter Megan is a recent Great Britain gold medallist: “Having Liam come to these shows is a brilliant lift for York’s youngsters. If we can help them in any way to advance then we will.”