One to one

Former world kickboxing champion looking forward to first title fight in the boxing ring

Dundee boxer Paul Kean insists that having served his professional boxing apprenticeship, he now feels fully qualified to take the next big step up the ladder. The undefeated 25-year-old will compete for his first title on Friday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow.

He was originally scheduled to fight Stefan Anderson but that contest had to be put on hold with Kean now taking on Irishman Jay Byrne for the Celtic super-welterweight title.

The 10-round contest will be the culmination of five months of intense preparation with the Dundonian – a former world kickboxing champion – admitting he has never worked so hard for a bout.

Kean said: “I am really excited and looking forward to what will be my first title fight.

“I have been in training camp for five months and this is the hardest I have ever trained.

“Usually I would have an eight to 10-week camp but to be honest I am training all the time anyway.

“I never stop but I have been full at it since the second of January.

“My dad Paul is still in my corner as is my coach Craig Lusby and I have Gary Jacobs in Glasgow. Craig’s brother is also on board now as my strength and conditioning coach. It just works perfectly and the team I have around me is spot on.

“This fight will be a step up for me but hopefully I can get the win and climb up the ladder.

“I am seven fights undefeated and I have tried to improve in every one. So I will just keep pushing on, hopefully win this belt and keep going.

“This is it now, the two-year mark for me. I have served my apprenticeship but now I want to be fighting for titles.”

He added: “I was meant to be fighting Stefan Anderson for the Scottish title but it changed last week when he had to pull out because of illness.

“It has actually worked out in my favour as I am fighting for a better title, the Celtic, which includes boxers from Ireland and Wales.

“It is against a tougher opponent, Jay Byrne from Ireland, who has been in with some top-quality boys.

“Byrne is the Celtic champion at the moment but hopefully next week he won’t be.”

Kean will take through a large support for the fight but he is hoping that further down the line, the City of Discovery will host one of his bouts.

He said: “I made my debut in the Crowne Plaza and I love the venue. I have over 100 supporters coming again so I am really looking forward to it.

“Having them there makes a big difference. When you hear them as you come out it makes you a wee bit more pumped up.

“I love it – that’s what it is all about.

“But we are really looking to get a show in Dundee. The plan hopefully is to get a fight against Stefan for the Scottish title in September in the city at the Caird Hall.”

Kean will also have a lot of support on Friday from his family with dad Paul, who is also a former world kickboxing champion, in his corner while wife Jojo and son Saul will be in the audience along with mum Debbie – with the latter making sure no-one is left in any doubt about who she is supporting.

Kean added: “I have been fighting since I was seven or eight and in every single video you can hear my mum shouting. Even if the place was packed you could hear her.

“Some mums don’t like watching but she loves it. She has never missed a fight.

“Jojo also goes. She is a bit more nervous but she is also right behind me. It must be hard for her when I am in camp for five months but she supports me through everything.

“My older son Saul, who is nine, is coming to the fights now. Saul went to the World Kickboxing Championships last year and won a gold medal so he is doing well.

“My younger son Paul is just about to turn three but he has also started in the kickboxing classes.

“He absolutely loves it. My dad’s Skyaxe gym is like a big playground for him and he is in there with the boxing gloves on.

“I am glad they enjoy it. Obviously my dad is there, my sister trains and my wife does the circuit classes now as well.

“It is a whole family thing – it’s good.

“Saul loves it and he will be at my next fight. Some people don’t like having their family there but it just makes me feel better. It is good to have that support.”

Kean also has a lot of support in the background making sure that no stone is left unturned in preparing for his fights.

He said: “Harry Ogg from Body Tone Warehouse looks after my diet.

“Before I was making the weight but now everything is measured to the last gram. I make the weight well and during training I feel really good.

“It also helps with my recovery. It is all about doing things well and being professional.

“You want to produce the best performance you can and diet is a big factor in that.

“Harry does the diet and the boys from Scran Fitness Foods make my meals.

“I just need to eat them so life is good! I don’t think the food would taste as good if I was to make it but it is brilliant.

“I go down there on a Tuesday and pick up my meals. I have to eat them at certain times. I eat at six o’clock in the morning, 10, two, six and 10.

“It is good but don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to a burger after the fight!

“When you are in training camp, even going out for your tea with the family, you have to think, ‘I can have this but I can’t have that’. But it is all worth it.

“I have been able to focus more on training in the last year.

“I am also a personal trainer but I have a good sponsorship deal with Metaltech UK.

“They came on board and helped take the pressure off me so that I could focus more on my training and work less.

“That’s made a big difference. I think I have improved a lot in the last year.

“I am still a personal trainer but I work part-time hours now. Having Metaltech on board also allows me to spend more time with my family.”

We are really looking to get a show in Dundee. The plan hopefully is to get a fight with Stefan for the Scottish title in September in the city at the Caird Hall