Boxer 'excited' for first Jersey title fight

Ben Reid, 26, is set to face an Irish pro for the ISKA 4 Nations 190lbs championship

A professional Muay Thai boxer from Jersey is “grateful and excited” for his first title fight in the island.

Ben Reid, 26, is set to face Ireland’s Keelan Foran for the ISKA 4 Nations 190lbs championship on Saturday 1 June.

Michael Blood, director of Blood Fitness and the fight’s promotor, said local fighters had increased the sport's popularity and given Jersey an international following.

“It's a world-renowned belt. It is a big deal for somebody from Jersey to be fighting for this title,” he said.

'Beautiful violence'

Muay Thai uses kicks, punches, knees, and elbows, along with sweeps and clinches.

Mr Reid said it was the respect and tradition that attracted him to the sport.

“Traditional Thai boxing is like a dance it looks beautiful it’s called beautiful violence,” the athlete explained.

Mr Reid acknowledged the toll of fighting from “little niggles, like broken toes” to more serious injuries like “internal bleeding and torn ligaments”.

Ben Reid currently has a perfect professional record of three wins and zero losses

Mr Blood said Jersey had “a great following” of supporters for the sport - but with more attention came more pressure to train.

He said: “It's grown so big in the UK that we really have to up our game.

"Some of them are training four or five hours a day. So, that's the kind of level we're at."

Mr Reid described his five-week fight camp as a "mental game".

"People don't see the hours that all the lads are putting in the gym."

He said he had no intention of slowing down until “the belt is around his waist”.