Chad Sugden is delighted with his start in boxing but the 22-year-old wants to keep grounded and focus on building his way up to the top, starting with his fight in Cannock on July 24th.
Sugden is set to make his third pro outing on Black Country Boxing and Hatton Promotions’ join promotion – Danger Zone – at the Chase Leisure Centre.
“I think it has been a good start,” Sugden to www.uko-boxing.com. “I am always looking to improve in every fight but that comes with experience as well. I haven’t lost a round yet so I am looking forward to getting back in the ring and I am confident as always.
“I like to keep my feet on the ground but the start I have had does fill me with confidence. People will look from the outside in and think that it was a good performance in my last fight and think I am slick and don’t get hit very much but I always look on all the things I can improve on and I have been working on that in training.
“Every fight I look at and I feel like there is still plenty I can improve and it isn’t the best me yet but that will come. I am looking forward to being able to relax in the ring and show off a few more skills than I have done already.”
The former kickboxing World Champion insists he doesn’t miss the sport he had so much success in and paid tribute to his team and fans who he believes has helped him to achieve what he has so far.
“I am not missing kickboxing at all. I have always wanted to get into boxing and I am really enjoying it. I had a great time in kickboxing and it gave me the chance to go to all these wonderful places but boxing is where I want to be and I am really enjoying my time in it.
“I was at the top in kickboxing so I did get a lot of attention and the crowds and stadiums were much bigger but I am getting as many fans in boxing and that will build as I progress too. People are looking and wondering if I can be as good at boxing as I was at kickboxing. Even though I know I am, some people still doubt it but I am enjoying building back up and starting fresh in another sport. I am only 22 and I have a lot to build on and I am hoping to go all the way to the top.
“My team help me massively. They spur me on and I am lucky to have my team and fans around me. I am lucky to have good sponsors and plenty of good fans and friends that come to all my fights and those guys know who they are and I am very grateful for it. I couldn’t be where I am now without them. At the end of the day ticket sales make the world go round in boxing so if I didn’t sell those tickets I wouldn’t get the fights that I have. That just needs to keep coming while I am stepping up that ladder.”
The Newark-based fighter is coached by his dad as well as having several other family members on his team and Sugden feels lucky to have those who holds dear around him.
“My dad has stayed as my coach from kickboxing through to boxing and my brother has been in my corner many times too. My cousin is also a pro boxer and he is hoping to get his license to help me in the corner too so that is nice as they know best how I work. It is nice to have people that you are close with and you trust in your corner and I am really lucky to have that. My dad is head coach and he only wants the best for me and doesn’t want to see me hurt so to have him as my manager is perfect.”
Sugden features on a bill that is topped by Bloxwich’s Luke Paddock taking on Essex’s Anthony Upton, trained by Ricky Hatton, for the vacant English Super Lightweight Title.
Fellow Ricky Hatton trained fighters, Wednesbury welterweight, Sam Evans, and Market Harborough super welterweight, Reuben Arrowsmith, also feature alongside Birmingham’s English Super Bantamweight Champion, Sean Davi and Derby’s Sahib Singh Mann who is set to make his debut.
Swadlincote super middleweight, Zach Parker, and Burton featherweight, Leon Gower, complete the card.
The show takes place at Chase Leisure Centre, Stafford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 4AL.
Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 Ringside, are available by calling 01543 504 065. The show takes place on Sunday afternoon with doors opening at 12.30pm.
