Church looking for his first stoppage
Kai Church…fighting in his home town on Friday, June 2
KAI Church reckons a maiden TKO as a pro is on the way while he targets a trio of paid victories since turning over.
His hat-trick could come at the Park Inn Hotel, in Northampton town centre, when BCB Promotions host their next show there on Friday, June 2.
Church has reeled off two four-round spotless points successes, both coming through a 40-36 points whitewash scoreline, so far.
The 23-year-old lightweight, who is from Kingsthorpe, turned over last November, outpointing the experienced Brett Fidoe.
He returned to action in February, shutting out Liam Fox by the same verdict. Both of those victories came under the lights of the Park Inn Hotel.
Church is a graduate of Far Cotton Boxing Club, for whom he racked up 19 bouts, with 11 wins among them. His training base is now at the Rough and Ready Boxing Academy.
The tall operator, who stands at 6ft, is led by coach Driton Muhaxheri and manager Spencer McCracken Snr, and moves at pace in the ring.
He juggles being a fighter with a full-time job as a telecommunications engineer for Openreach, and is making progress in the pro game.
Church said: “It’s been good to get the rounds under my belt and to have taken on two tough opponents, which have been learning fights for me.
“Brett (Fidoe) was a bit more awkward, with him being shorter than me, so I was boxing mostly on the outside, to keep him at range.
“Liam (Fox) pushed forward a lot more and gave me a lot more to think about, but I managed to get a few more shots off against him, because he was throwing more.
“I was working him out in the first round, but I stayed in control. Every time that I went for a jab, he threw an overhand right, but I avoided them and worked on my own angles.
“I thought that I had him, in the last round. I landed a right hand (to the head) and he stumbled back into the ropes. With a bit more composure, I might have finished it.
“I’ll be looking to go one better, next time, and close out the stoppage, if I get the chance. I can feel that it’s coming as I make progress.
“I’ve upped my training and had some decent rounds of sparring, with the likes of Ben (Vaughan) and Eithan (James, fellow pros). I’ve sparred with them before.
“Every boxer wants to win titles and I’m no different, but it’s about getting experience. I want to get a six-rounder in before the end of the year.”
*Tickets for the Park Inn bill are available, priced at £40 for unreserved seating or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.