In brief: Two Muay Thai fighters from Jersey’s Blood Fitness gym, Jacques Stead and Elysia Parmesan, are competing at Fortitudo Fight Night 4 in Liverpool on Saturday. Stead makes his comeback after taking time off following the birth of his child, while Parmesan looks to extend her unbeaten record.
Jersey Takes on Liverpool
The Channel Islands will have a presence on the Merseyside fight scene this weekend, as the Jersey Evening Post reports that Blood Fitness athletes Jacques Stead and Elysia Parmesan are both on the card at Fortitudo Fight Night 4. The event takes place at Fusion Nightclub in Liverpool, with the first fight scheduled from 1pm. The headline bout of the evening is an ISKA International Title matchup between Englishman Luke Kaufman and Swede Vinterskog, but Jersey fans will have their eyes firmly on their two island representatives.
Stead’s Long-Awaited Return
Jacques Stead steps back into competition for the first time in 2026, having taken a deliberate break from the sport after becoming a father earlier this year. By his own account, the time away has been anything but idle. “I’ve been training all the way through,” Stead told the Jersey Evening Post, “and this is a really good match-up for me against a decent opponent.”
Stead competes in a 65kg B-class bout against Rupen Vyas of Assassin’s Gym, an opponent described as a forward-pressing fighter who combines knees and elbows with technical discipline. Stead’s own style is notably unorthodox, built around unpredictability, feints and kicks that, as the JEP notes, make him “a nightmare for any opponent.” He and coach Mikey Blood have been working specifically on countering forward pressure, and Stead is clear about his ambitions: “I’m looking to get the win and end the year on a high. I’ve had some time off, but I want to get ready for an active 2027.”
Parmesan Looks to Keep Her Record Intact
Elysia Parmesan enters her 52kg bout carrying an unbeaten record and the backing of coach and former professional Michael Blood, who has described her as having the ability to “go far in the sport.” Her opponent, Emma Harrison of JCs Gym, is characterised as an aggressive, boxing-heavy fighter, a style Parmesan has been preparing for specifically. “I’ve been working a lot on my clinch and point scoring with my kicks to counter that,” she said.
Parmesan has also been sharpening her preparation with the help of training partner Kimberley Noel, a WBC English titlist and nationally ranked fighter. That kind of sparring partner speaks to the seriousness with which Blood Fitness approaches its athletes’ development. Parmesan herself is measured but motivated: “I just want to bring one of two wins home for Team Blood.”
Her technical composure and versatility are noted strengths. As the JEP puts it, she is “somewhat a jack of all trades,” which gives her the flexibility to adapt to whatever Harrison brings on the night.
Source: Jersey Evening Post
