Result: Win Round 2 KO

Joe was top of a bill that included several world title fights and pitted a host of Combat Fight Series and Hitman Fight League-backed stars against each other.

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Fighting in front of packed house at London’s Indigo venue at the O2 Arena, Joe took on arguably the best British Muay Thai and kickboxing fighter of his generation, Michael Wakeling, with the victor becoming the new ISKA world number one and UK middleweight champion.

The five-round bout got off to a flying start, with the two fighters exchanging blows from the bell.

The first round was evenly scored, but everything changed just a minute into the second round.

Joe caught Wakeling with a right-hand jab and hook combo that put a swift end to the contest. 

The right stunned his storied opponent, then the sweet left hook turned Wakeling’s legs to jelly, and the fight was over moments after he hit the canvas.

As the medical team tended to Wakeling, Joe’s ecstatic celebrations showed just how much the win, and the titles, meant to him.

In the post-fight interview with Vinny Shoreman, Joe was his ever respectful self and said: “I’m so happy, massive thanks to Mike, I’ve looked up to that guy for absolutely years.

“Just to have shared a ring with him is a massive honour, so a big thank you to Mike.”

Vinny told Joe: “You needed to be better this time and you were, 100% better.

“The team behind you did an absolutely brilliant job, that left hook was absolutely sweet, what a way to win.”

Joe fights out of Bad Company Gym in Leeds, and he paid tribute to his legendary trainer Liam Harrison, saying: “I’m buzzing, I’ll take that one off Liam, hook sai, goodbye. I want to thank everyone at Bad Company Gym, my sponsors, family and everyone that’s come to support me.”

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And with that, Joe Craven is the new ISKA middleweight world champion.

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He’s next scheduled to fight Josh Hill in Manchester on February 24, 2024, with Hill coming off a draw in his last bout.

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