CHRIS ADAWAY is hoping to capture a British Challenge belt for the second time after winning the title in September last year.
The Super Lightweight previously secured the belt at Lightweight when he got the better of Andy Harris on points. The Plymouth pugilist is confident of defeating Kieron McLaren on Hatton Boxing’s ‘The Beginning’ show when the pair lock horns at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke this weekend.
“I think he is a classy boxer but I don’t think he carries much power. I think if it all goes to plan I can wear him down and go for the stoppage late on. I am expecting the win and I always turn up thinking will get a win and nothing less,” Adaway said.
“I am massively motivated to get the belt. I have won the challenge belt before and I was the first person to contest for one so it would be great to win again. Fingers crossed I can be the first person to win one at different weights.”
The 23-year-olds career so far has been littered with defeats but Adaway believes he is in much better shape after moving up a weight division.
“I have developed massively. I was fighting at the wrong weight before and I was killing myself to make the weight and now I have found my natural weight. I am hitting a lot harder and I can fight inside now too so I feel I have progressed massively,” he said.
“Preparation has gone really well. I have stepped up training and I have been working very hard these last few weeks. I have got some good sparring in and on Wednesday I am sparring Southern Area Champion Jamie Speight. So everything is going well and I am looking forward to getting in the ring now.”
The fight in Stoke will be in the home-town of McLaren but Adaway feels he can use that to his advantage and he is fully focused on getting his hand raised.
“I really enjoy going into other fighters’ back yards. There is no pressure on me at all. All the pressure is on him. I go there expected to lose so when I get the win it will be all the more satisfying.”
Adaway will make a return to Plymouth when he fights at the Guildhall at the end of October and he is hoping to build on the positive result he got there last time out against Matt Seawright in July.
“I can’t wait to get back fighting in Plymouth. I am absolutely buzzing for it and the sport is on a real high there at the minute so I will love it. It meant the world to me to get the win because before that the last time I was there I got knocked out quite heavily in the last round.
“It was a fight that I could have been winning on points too so it shattered my confidence a bit and I needed that win to show people what I am about. I am there to win and not just make up the numbers and I think I showed that in my last fight there. It doesn’t matter where I am I will always turn up for the win but being in Plymouth gives me that extra push.”
‘The Beginning’ is the first in number of upcoming shows to be hosted by Hatton Boxing, the company founded by the two-weight world champion; Hatton Boxing also manufactures premium boxing equipment and trains thousands of fitness professionals each year through its Academy.
The card is headlined by Nathan Gorman’s Central Area heavyweight title clash with David Howe and also features welterweights Craig Morris and Nathan McIntosh clash for the Midlands Area crown.
Also featured are Hatton Promotions’ welterweight prospect Sam ‘Taffy’ Evans, popular Irishman Chris Blaney, Stafford stalwart Rob Hunt, Ruskington’s Dan Cooper and hometown debutant Owen Jobburn.
Tickets to are priced at £30 for general admission and £60 for ringside and can be purchased at Hattonboxing.com
