Nolan making his mark in new field
BOXING: When promising Toowoomba rugby league prospect Tom Nolan was looking to increase his fitness, strength and defensive technique he joined the Kachi martial arts club.
After some extensive jiu jitsu training, the teenager moved into mixed martial arts for which he found a niche and suddenly that career with the Toowoomba Clydesdales was on hold.
Now, after six bouts in the cage for five wins and one no-contest, Tom “Big Train” Nolan is about to fight for the featherweight title.
“I was with the Clydesdales when I was 14 and wanted to continue with some off-season training to keep fit and increase my skills in certain areas,” the 17-year-old said.
“I didn’t want to become lazy in the off-season.
“Then I started competing and found I enjoyed it so I decided to switch from footy to this.”
The Centenary Heights High School Year 12 student has adapted so well to the sport it’s almost impossible to find opponents near his age so the teenager finds himself facing fighters sometimes 10 years older.
“It doesn’t both me. I’m used to it... going in against ‘adults’,” he grinned.
Under coach Joseph Perry, the teenager’s training regime is intense.
“We train pretty much every day, usually five to six hours with a day off occasionally,” Nolan said.
“We do a lot of wrestling, jiu jitsu, road running and bag work and a lot of running. A lot of conditioning. But I enjoy it.”
The undefeated Nolan will step into the ring with Joshua “Hungarian Lion” Francois for the vacant XFC Amateur Featherweight title at the Logan Metro Sports Centre on Saturday, November 25.
Tickets are available at www.xfcaustralia.com.au.