Local Boxer Set for Biggest Fight of His Career in European Title Clash

A local boxer will soon be heading to London to take on his toughest opponent yet, if he wins he’ll come home as the European Welterwight Champion in Hybrid Boxing

Kurtis Ham, 21 is a builder by day but a boxer by night, and at his upcoming fight next month, which will be his second professional fight, spectators should expect blood, grit and an unforgettable battle that “isn’t just a fight, it’s a war”

Kurtis’s passion for boxing started when he was just 10yrs old and won his first fight after just 2 weeks of training, it was in that moment of victory that he fell in love with sport and his drive and determination hasn’t stopped since.

Kurtis started his career when he was just a kid (Photo: Kurtis Ham)

In time, Kurtis joined Weston Warriors and shortly after began training with locally renowned boxing coach Dean Lewis, who has had a string of successful champions under his mentorship.

Kurtis said: “Working with Dean helped me keep myself out of trouble a lot whilst growing up and the sport has always giving me something to keep my mind and body active, I wouldn’t be where I am today without his support for which I am truly thankful”

Kurtis with Dean Lewis and others (Photo: Kurtis Ham)

Previous to his upcoming fight Kurtis had competed at a national level as an amateur boxer and won 3 counties championships along the way.

Kurtis added: “I did get to a point in my life where I fell out of with the sport and had a year away from it, but that wasn’t a good time for me, I got into a lot of fights outside the ring which lead to me getting in trouble with the police, but I decided that path wasn’t one I wanted to continue down so chose to get back into the sport, leading to my professional bare knuckle debut on my 20th birthday”

Kurtis won the fight by knockout in round one and began once again to believe in himself and his abilities.

Kurtis at the weigh in before his fight (Photo: Kurtis Ham)

Kurtis continued: “The buzz and adrenaline I got from the fight was like nothing I’ve ever had from boxing before, which led me to search for more”

Before long promoters in the sport clocked on to Kurtis’s potential and he was soon approached by one who wanted to get him involved in a new professional fighting platform called hybrid boxing.

Hybrid Boxing rules are the same as boxing however the 10-12oz gloves are replaced with 4oz MMA gloves.

This setup limits the bulky defence that big boxing gloves provide, leading to a faster-paced, more aggressive style. Sanctioning bodies like the Hybrid Boxing Organisation (HBO) govern these professional and amateur hybrid bouts.

Next months fight will be Kurtis’s toughest so far

Kurtis said: “As much as I enjoyed the bare knuckle fighting style, I snapped 2 bones in my hands so this new style of fighting was ideal for me as it enables me to continue my professional boxing career but protect my hands in the process, whilst keeping the ferocity of bare knuckle fighting”

Kurtis’s first fight in this new style of boxing was in January of this year which he won in a first round knockout.

Since then he has poured his heart and soul into his training which has led to his upcoming fight next month against Joe Fitzpatrick where the two will fight it out for the European Welterweight title.

Kurtis said: “This will be my toughest fight yet, Joe is a former commonwealth silver medalist for Ireland and comes with strong experience and fight success.

This fight is going to be nothing less than a two man war and I am buzzing to be back out in the bright lights of London and showing everyone whose the best at my weight”

Tickets to the fight in London on Saturday 29th August can be purchased here