A FORMER Great Britain amateur has taken a barefisted swipe at the business of professional boxing.
Kallum Skhane trained alongside Ben Whittaker in Sheffield and represented Wales in the European Championships during his 75-bout amateur career.
Rather than turn professional, Skhane has chosen to take a fast track to 50-50 fights, media spotlight and a possible trip to the United States by ditching his gloves to fight bareknuckle.
The 27-year-old won his debut for promoters BYB Extreme inside a round and looks to make it 2-0 in Cardiff on Saturday, February 1.
Explaining his decision, Skhane said: “You can be a 10-0 pro without beating anyone and without getting anywhere.
“In bareknuckle, you’re having 50-50 fights straightaway and there are belts to be won. You just get on with it. Everyone is there to fight, not build a winning record.
“I boxed in 11 or 12 countries as an amateur, but never the United States. That’s what I’m aiming for.
“The Americans would like the way I fight. I’ve got speed, movement and power. I have it all. I had my first bout at 10 or 11 and boxed at international level for years.”
He was way too good for Ryan Meer on his debut in Wolverhampton in November and next, he faces Seamus Devlin, a former gloved pro journeyman who also made a winning start to his bareknuckle career.
Skhane was a product of the same gym that produced another top amateur who took the bareknuckle boxing route, Dan Chapman.
Both boxed for Gwynfi ABC under the late John Radmore and while Chapman took a career change after a serious accident, Skhane says he had a rethink after suffering Commonwealth Games heartbreak.
“I had a fight to go to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast (in 2018) against a Welsh team mate and lost a close decision,” he said.
“It could have gone either way. I went on holiday and when I came back they said I had been picked for the Great Britain Championship, but I had just been away and was feeling disheartened.
“I had a couple of years off. I ended up going back to the gym and fell in love with it again. I felt I hadn’t lost anything, just put on a bit of weight.
“I was 91kgs when I went back to the gym and I’m down at 68lgs for my next one. I feel better than I’ve ever felt and I can’t see anyone stopping me becoming a world champion.”
