Nathan McAdam has made Cockermouth his home and now hopes his adopted town will rally round him as he fights to become a bare-knuckle boxing champion with his next bout, writes James Bovington.
McAdam will fight in Mirfield, West Yorkshire on August 24 at Fight Fest Five, an open-air show organised by Spartan Warz, in which fights take place in pits made from bales of hay.
He said: “I grew up in Sunderland but came to Cockermouth with my dad five years ago after GCSEs as we wanted a change from city life. I love living in Cumbria. My road to the fight game was different to most.
“I’m a placid lad who never causes bother on the streets, but I always enjoyed combat sports. When I attended my first Spartan Warz event I fell in love with bare knuckle boxing. It’s the most brutal and action-packed sport there is.
“I had one fight in Rochdale in 2022. It was in a pit, and I had 10 weeks’ notice. I eventually took on a lad in the weight class above me.
“On fight day, I was a little bit nervous due to never having a fight before. I jumped in and struggled initially as I adapted to the environment. I soon sustained a gash under my eye but was allowed to continue. My head was then fully in the game. I caught the lad with a few big shots and dropped him to gain a first-round stoppage.”
The Mirfield fight will also be in a hay pit in a field which McAdam said added to the raw appeal of bare knuckle.
He added: “I respect my opponent and look forward to meeting him on the day, however this is my first step to greater things. This is for the promotion’s British strawweight title over five two-minute rounds.
“If the fight goes the distance and the medical staff deem you fit to carry on, then you go into a final round till someone cannot continue. There’s no time limit. We’re aware that there can be serious damage and my opponent’s face won’t be pretty at the end but there’s danger in all combat sports.
“The adrenaline rush outweighs all risk. Fighting bare knuckle gives me a safe place to channel frustration or anger into something I enjoy and am good at.”
McAdam, 21, is looking forward to becoming a dad to a baby girl in November and works with dad Neil fitting bathrooms.
He said: “We do it all. Rip them out and fit new ones. I also love playing football and snooker but mainly just spending time with family. My dad’s my biggest fan. In my corner when I fight. His company Better Bathrooms is my sponsor but to progress in the fight game, I need more sponsors. If any local individuals or companies want to help it would be appreciated.”
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