Sonny Trego has emerged as the new champion after the 10th Arena Wars in Hastings.

The event on Saturday afternoon, saw the AMTA Junior title contested for the first time.

After an extremely close battle over five rounds, 10-year-old Sonny ‘Money Man’ Trego emerged as the first ever AMTA (42kg Little Warrior under 14) Korimako Weight NZ Champion, defeating Corbin Searancke of Spartan Gym in New Plymouth.

The fight was a close one, with Sonny being the aggressor and Corbin fighting from the outside.

Despite being the smaller fighter, it was Sonny who displayed a superior clinch game, using the double collar-tie effectively to setup his knee strikes on his way to a split decision victory to secure the title.

The Aotearoa Muay Thai Association is a new sanctioning body for Muay Thai in New Zealand, started and run by Lucky 9 Gym’s head coach Scott Tweedie.

The aim of the AMTA is to legitimise Muay Thai in New Zealand through stricter adherence to the rules and scoring of Muay Thai and establishing a ranking system for fighters.

Additionally, the AMTA is set up to give opportunity to all fighters from amateur to professional, with an emphasis on mental health and suicide prevention.

Arena Wars 10 saw a collaboration between the Siam Cup and the AMTA, who co-sanctioned the event.

This is a big step forward for the sport, as most organisations seem to be largely resistant to such co-promotion.

The new AMTA Junior Korimako Weight NZ Champ Sonny Trego has had 14 fights at only 10 years old.

He weighed in a 39.8kg; well below the 42kg weight limit. He is not the only successful fighter in his family.

His father Motu Trego runs the East Coast Muay Thai gym in Whatuwhiwhi.

His brother Lfah Trego is the New Zealand Junior IKBF Champion as well as a silver and bronze medallist in the International Muay Thai Federation Amateur (IFMA) World Championships in Thailand.

The family trio drove 14 hours from the top of the North Island to make it to Hastings for Arena Wars 10.

Sonny’s belt will be eligible for defence from April 1.

Who will step up to challenge this young warrior?