Bay fighter sets sights on African championship
Bloemendal man has what it takes – coach
AFTER making a serious impression on mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Bay, a Port Elizabeth fighter has now set his sights on being the continent’s toughest amateur featherweight fighter.
Shane Higgins, 31, travels to Gauteng at the end of the month to compete in the African Open Championships, and hopes to put in a performance that will propel him into a professional MMA career.
“This is where I want to prove myself,” Higgins said.
“I want to show my coach, my competitors and other fight promoters out there that I belong in this game.
“I have what it takes to fight in the big leagues.”
The father of three from Bloemendal has been training in martial arts since he was nine years old, starting with karate and kickboxing. In 2012, he discovered the Port Elizabeth Submission Fighting Academy (Pesfa) and began training in Brazilian jiu jitsu and MMA under renowned fighter-trainer Chris Bright.
“Shane’s work rate is incredible and he is always improving as a stand-up, striking fighter, and as a grappler,” Bright said.
“He always remains calm, even when he stands across the ring from his opponents.
“But despite his appearance, he is super aggressive when it’s time to perform.”
Higgins’s recent success came in the newly-formed Chosen Fighting Championship, in which he has won his last two fights quickly and in spectacular fashion, making him a crowd favourite among Port Elizabeth MMA fans.
But his new-found fame has not come without its share of sacrifice.
Balancing a full-time job as a project assistant at a cement manufacturer, family life and a demanding training schedule has stretched Higgins thin.
However, he believes the rewards will far outweigh the sweat he has poured into his four weekly training sessions.
“At Pesfa, I train with professional fighters every day.
“They have been there, they know what fighting is all about.
“Their skills are far beyond those of any opponent I will face in the tournament.
“If I can keep up in the gym, I can take anything those guys can throw at me.”
Higgins said he had been putting in a lot of work into his striking game, and would give his opponents dangerous punches and kicks.
He is known for his technical grappling skills, making him an all-round fighter.
Bright believes Higgins’s calm demeanour and “huge gas tank” [stamina] give him the edge he will need to become African champion.
The African Open will draw fighters from as far as Sweden, Bahrain and India to compete for the title, and the featherweight division (under 66kg) is set to be one of the toughest of all the weight classes.
The African Open Championships run from August 28 to September 2 in Brakpan.