What about Paddy Boyle. In the late 70's he went over to Thailand and lived and fought out there for a year, winning 7 or 8 of 10 fights. He lived in and fought out of Sor Thanikul. In those days in the regional fights Paddy was having, no one would have probably seen a white man, let alone a ginger Irishman. Sor thanikul wouldn't have let Paddy represent them if he wasn't up to standard. He battled for gambling cash in the province shows, living and training in the harsh conditions with the other fighters, and he was in the camp when the bad goings on happened out there.
I still see Paddy now and again. In my eyes he's always been a pioneer of British Muaythai, and it must have been a brilliant time as well; he just laughs (shaking his head) and says "it was tough"