When Stoke teenager Kian Murphy attended the city's Bad to the Bone (BTTB) show last year, he told his stepfather "I could do this" and true to his word he made his gloved boxing debut on this year's show at Fenton Manor earlier in May winning by unanimous decision. 

"I'd always thought that I'd like to give boxing a go," explained Murphy. "I was always confident I'd be tough enough to handle myself in a fight and now I've proved it. My comment was a bit of a joke really, but I thought why not? I got myself some training at Gather Gym with Erin Franklin and then directly with Stef Hanks who runs BTTB."

Former Clayton Hall Academy student Murphy is now nineteen and works making curtains for trailers. "I only had six weeks training for the bout and had a change of opponent, so I ended up facing a lad who was a bit of a power puncher. I'll always love football, but I want to take this boxing all the way and make my name as a professional. There's no feeling like proving yourself courageous in the ring and winning and no better ambition a young man can have. Other boxers take note Kian Murphy's coming for what's his."

Former Clayton Hall Academy student, Kian Murphy, works making curtains for trailers (Image supplied).

Other young, gloved fighters on what was primarily an evening of bare-knuckle boxing included sixteen-year-old Harrison West from Stafford Fight Academy who also won his debut amateur fight and fifteen-year-old Ashton Pullin from Basement in Biddulph who won an exhilarating encounter against fourteen-year-old Fin Ashton of Elite. Jack Barrs and Oli Clews boxed bravely over five two-minute rounds to share a BTTB Midlands title and look forward to an exciting rematch. Murphy's boxing mentor Erin Franklin failed to win the BTTB British title won by opponent Melissa Tout but in just his second bout Uttoxeter boxer Brady Peake took the second BTTB Midlands title beating Cal Tromans. 

There was also disappointment for popular Stoke boxer Harry Walker as the nineteen-year-old lost his BTTB British title in a hard-fought contest with the much older and more experienced Pedrorino Sal who at 35 is a manager in the probation service. "I won all the rounds with cleaner work and stronger shots," said Sal, "but Harry was quick moving fast." Walker is also looking to a rematch and stated "I've watched the fight back and am already in the gym working hard for Liverpool on 27th July. Still proud of my record of thirteen wins out of eighteen fights including two draws."

Stoke's Joe Wise trains under Stef Hanks and fought his first bare knuckle match (Simon Boothe).

Stoke's Joe Wise trains under Stef Hanks and fought his first bare knuckle match. He is philosophical about the result. "I'm still processing my loss," said self-employed groundworker Wise, 27, "it's difficult hard to see where I went wrong as it was over before I found my feet. Other than a few stitches and a big blow to my pride I'm fine but disappointed it didn't go the distance. Over the years I took big hits as a boxer and gave them, but nothing can prepare you for bare knuckle. I just couldn't find my feet. My opponent was an experienced European belt holder and I'm proud to have shared the ring with him. It's a learning curve. I'll be back in the gym learning to get the job done next time."

"It was a great evening enjoyed by approaching two thousand attendees" stated BTTB founder Stefen Hanks. "We were particularly proud to have been the first UK promotion to fly over popular Australian fighter Haze the Huntsman to make his first UK appearance and see him win the BMF title. I can't thank our sponsors enough and now having had a major show in Leeds back in February we're in Liverpool next. But Stoke's our base and we're proud to have staged a successful event that's massively contributed to our home city's sports offer."

Another show, Shadow of Legends, takes place in Liverpool in July (BTTB).

Meanwhile, the delighted and delightful Kian Murphy hopes to compete on Bad to the Bone in Liverpool in July and like all aspiring athletes needs help through sponsorship. Potential sponsors can contact him on Facebook at Kian Murphy or directly at [email protected] or 07708602953.

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