Ricardo Miranda: world champion! 

Not everyone can say they work alongside a world champion – but employees at WESGO, part of Morgan Advanced Ceramics, in Hayward, California USA certainly can.

Because during July 2005, one of its team leaders Ricardo Miranda defended his world championship title in Muay Thai, more commonly known as Thai Boxing or Kick Boxing – for the fourth time. This demonstrates Ricardo’s exceptional dedication to his sport – he trains six days a week and keeps to a strict diet – which is a quality that’s also reflected in his career with Morgan. 

Kick Boxing is an extremely demanding sport, which uses all body parts as weapons in the ring, including the feet, knees, and elbows as well as the fists, and is the national sport of Thailand. 

Ricardo, now age 30, took up the sport almost by chance at the age of 14, when he passed by a local gym, saw a Kick Boxing class taking place, and immediately wanted to try it himself. By 17, Ricardo was competing in Kick Boxing tournaments in Thailand, in the cruiserweight division. Since then, his extensive training and determination has seen him defend his world title four times, the last being in Mexico City during July 2005 – with the added challenge of having to fight at very high altitude. 

Ricardo said: “The major tournaments that I fight at each year involve a lot of travelling. I’ve been to many countries, including South Korea, Hawaii, Mexico, Thailand and Canada. I was also in the US team at the 2000 Olympic games, which for this sport is held in Thailand. Throughout, all my colleagues and the company have been very supportive.”

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