12/29/2022
❗️❗️RECOGNIZE❗️❗️
On behalf of Kru Yai Justin, Kru Ram, and the Triumph Muay Thai family, we would like to acknowledge and recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of Basil Tago.
We honour Basil with Triumph's first "Fighter of the Year Award."
It is hard to describe how proud we are of Basil. Coming into the gym in 2018 with no previous experience in Martial Arts and Combat Sports, he showed immeasurable potential and excelled. Within six months, he was the fastest student to enter the ring and compete, resulting in winning the Gold Medal at the 2019 MTO Provincial Championship by the end of his first year.
Basil continued to show an immeasurable hunger to learn, grow, and unlock his potential. Even when the pandemic hit the city hard, he continued to train and develop his skills. He went on to travel to the U.S. in June 2021, with no coach, to compete in his first TBA expo tournament, where he won his first two fights by KO/TKO until losing a heart-breaking decision in the finals.
With Basil suffering his first loss, he courageously stayed committed and dedicated to his development and overall growth, hoping that this would only ignite his spirit even more - and oh boy, was it ignited!
He flew back to the U.S. four months later, on October 2021, to compete in the TBA Tournament of Champions and won his first TBA North American Belt. He then went again, in July 2022, to run it at the TBA World Expo, where he suffered his first loss, and brought home the TBA World Expo A-Class belt, as promised.
However, his spirit was tested again after losing his next two fights, but he wasn't discouraged. Instead, he embraced the losses in an inspiring and meaningful way that enabled him to take himself to the next level. Thus, to end the year, Basil won Muay Thai Canada's first-ever National Belt in a highly-anticipated rematch.
It has been our utmost privilege and honour to have been in the corner of Basil's journey. We are so proud of the champion he has become and the man he has become to his family, friends, and community.
Big things are coming for you
TRIUMPH 👊
