Nine-time kickboxing World Champion Brad Foster is delighted with his progress since switching to boxing. The teenager wanted a new challenge after his success in kickboxing and is hoping to reach similar heights in his new sport continuing with the ‘High Hopes’ show at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham, on Saturday.
“I was nine times world kickboxing champion,” he told www.uko-boxing.com. “I also held European and British titles too. I was nine when I started. I had been doing it for a long time and I had achieved everything in the sport so I decided to move on to boxing.
“There was nothing else left to achieve in kickboxing for me so professional boxing was a new challenge for me. I am loving the challenge and I am going to try and be a world champion in boxing as well.”
Despite his achievements in kickboxing, the 18 year-old is keen not to rush his progress and is adamant he has a lot still to learn. The Flyweight has been linked with a title fight already but Foster has dismissed such talk and is talking each fight as it comes.
“People would say I have adapted well but to me I am just learning all the time. Each fight and sparring session I pick up something new against guys that have been there and done it. It is the little things I am picking up that add to my game and give me that experience to improve as a fighter.
“Training is going well as usual. I have been training hard and getting some sparring in with boxers like Luke Paddock. I have just been stepped up to six rounds and that is what I have been looking to do and it is what I needed. I want to test myself and see how I feel doing six rounds before I go shouting for titles and belts. My mind is focused fully on the 8th of October and seeing how I can do. It should go smoothly and I will be training hard in there to get the job done.
“Every fight is important to me and you can never go in there and not give your all. I give 100% in every training camp to make sure I am at my best. I am picking it up more now that I am doing six rounds but every fight is as important in my eyes and I have to go in there and get the job done.
“I don’t tend to feel the pressure. If you put the work in then there isn’t anything to feel pressure about. If you work hard in training then you should feel good and you shouldn’t feel any pressure because you know you should get the win. I just want to take one fight at a time and see where I can go. I plan to get to the very top one day and I know I can do it. It is all about making the step up at the right time. I am not going to step up too early. When the time is right I will up the level and we will get there.”
Birmingham middleweight debutant, Ikram Hussain, Birmingham super welterweight prospect, Jordan Clayton (3-0), and Leamington super lightweight, Michael Cole (1-0), also feature.
Tickets are priced at £60 and include a two-course meal at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport, Coventry Road, B26 3QW. Call 07974 762 574 to book.
