Ruth Ashdown

Ruth Ashdown (born 13 September 1978) is an English retired Muay Thai kickboxer who competed professionally from 2007 to 2018. She is the former WBC Muaythai world flyweight and super-bantamweight champion, as well as the former WBC Muaythai International and Diamond champion. She is one of just five diamond belt holders in the world.

Ashdown is the former World Muaythai Council European flyweight and the former International Combat Organisation Muay Thai champion. and IKF British Pro flyweight champion.

In 2018 the UK Muay Thai Awards voted her the Best Female Fighter of the Year, and in 2020 World Boxing Council inducted her into the Hall of Fame.

Muay Thai career Ruth Ashdown began her muay thai career in 2007, after she began training at the Lumpini Crawley gym. Her first title came in 2008, winning the IKF British flyweight title, after winning a split decision against Michelle Grizzle. After accumulating a 4–1 record, she was given an opportunity to fight for the WMC 118 lbs European title. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Following this, she went 5-2-1, with her draw and one of her losses coming at the hands of the future WBC Muaythai European champion Soraya Bucherie. Following a two fight win streak, she was given a chance to fight for the ISKA World Oriental flyweight championship against Serrin Murray. Ashdown won a unanimous decision. This three fight win streak would earn her the chance to fight Ekaterina Vandaryeva for the ICO 118 lbs title. She won the title by a second-round TKO.

Her next fight was likewise for the title, this time for the WBC Muaythai 118 lbs International title, against Kate Stables. Ashdown won by a unanimous decision.

She next fought for the WBC Muaythai European title, in a rubber match Soraya Bucherie. Ashdown would lose by decision.

In 2013 she won her first world title, the WBC Muaythai 118 lbs belt, after defeating Lailla Akounad by way of TKO. She lost the title in her first title defense to Lena Ovchynnikova.

In 2016 she won a unanimous decision against Sveva Melillo to clinch her second world title, the WBC Muaythai 122 lbs championship.

Her last career fight was also her last title fight. In 2018 she fought Dokmaipa Kiatpompetch for the WBC Muaythai 122 lbs belt. Ashdown won her sixth major title, with a unanimous decision win over the Thai fighter.

Ruth Ashdown now runs Strong Yoga classes on Zoom and in Haywards Heath and Crawley and runs Thai Boxing classes and personal training in Haywards Heath.

Championships and accomplishments International Kickboxing Federation IKF Pro British flyweight championship World Muaythai Council WMC European flyweight championship International Combat Organisation ICO World flyweight championship International Sport Karate Association ISKA World Oriental Rules flyweight championship World Boxing Council Muaythai WBC Muaythai International flyweight championship WBC Muaythai flyweight championship WBC Muaythai super-bantamweight championship WBC Muaythai Diamond super-bantamweight championship WBC Hall of Fame Inductee UK Muay Thai Awards 2018 Female Fighter of the Year

Muay Thai record