Pennimpede, who won the WMC NSW middleweight title in his previous bout in May, defeated tough Queenslander Lyndon Bin Doraho in an epic battle that added to the 20-year-old’s fast growing reputation as a crowd-pleaser on the Australian circuit.

It was Bin Doraho’s first loss in over 12 months and just his third in 19 bouts and saw Pennimpede take his record to an imposing 16-4-1 with a performance long-time Khrop Khrua Muay Thai mentor Danny Jones described as career best.

“It was David's best performance to date,” Jones said.

“It was the fight of the night with both fighters evenly matched and Lyndon going into the fight on a one-year winning streak. 

“The game plan was to out work him and not let him get set or into any kind of rhythm which David did controlling the exchanges and far stronger in the clinch.”

In contrast to much of his earlier career, the bout followed the longest pre-fight camp Pennimpede has enjoyed as a professional, something that showed in the ring.

“We had plenty of notice for this fight, about nine weeks, so I trained really hard and we went in super fit and super strong,” Pennimpede said.

“I honestly wasn’t feeling very good before the fight, I was really nervous  just because of all the hard work I’d put in which probably affected me physically but once I stepped in there everything switched on. 

“As soon as I stepped over those ropes I felt really good, really sharp and looking back it was probably the best I’ve fought.

“We knew he was a really tough, walk forward, aggressive fighter so we knew we had to fight really smart and pick our shots. I thought I really controlled the fight, every round, fought technical, fought smart and played the game.

“I was rocking him and hurting with my hands and we’d worked a lot on that in camp so it all came together really well on the night and worked well.

“To come out with the win in a really tough physical fight...all the hard work paid off and I’m just stoked and super excited now for what’s to come.”

What’s to come includes a fight in Thailand and a slot on Australia’s biggest card, Rebellion Muay Thai, in Melbourne in November.

“Dan said it was probably the best he’s seen me fight which is a good sign, it means I’m improving, I’m getting stronger, I’m getting fitter which is what we want,” Pennimpede said.

“I’ve already got two fights in the books for the end of the this year, one in Thailand and Rebellion Muay Thai in Melbourne which is the biggest show in the country so I’m looking forward to more big fights and getting matched against the best guys out there. You want to fight the best because when you beat the best that’s what elevates you even further.”