THE CENTURION
Basingstoke’s Bryce Goodridge is closing in on his 100th bout
WERE you boxing on Saturday?
Against Ricardo Slue [former national Elite champion at 91kgs] at heavyweight now. It was a close one. It was a proper boxing match, a bit like a chess match. But I put in the work.
I’ve only just gone up to heavyweight so I’ve only had three fights at heavyweight. I was a bit wary, I obviously knew he was a bit of a puncher. But I didn’t really get hit with anything clean so it was alright. It was a good win.
Are you going to stay at heavyweight?
86kgs is going to come in for the championships, I’m kind of inbetween 86 and 91 so not sure which one I’m going to go in at yet… I don’t mind which one. I got to a stage where I started to struggle at 81kgs a bit but obviously it’s 10 kilos difference so I’ve been at 86, 87, giving away a bit of weight.
I’ve had three fights at 91kgs and won all three. I feel alright at it. It’s not like I’d need to avoid it but if they’ve put an 86 in, I’m between the two.
How much would it mean to you to win the Elite championships?
That’s it, I really want to win it. Since I’ve been in it five times, got to the semis, got to the quarters, haven’t quite got the win. So hopefully this year I get it. This time I need to get the win.
So was Ricardo your 98th bout?
98th, yes. Two more [until 100]. I didn’t have any junior bouts, so I’ve literally just had busy seasons. I think I was 18 when I had my first bout.
A lot of people who have had 100 usually started off as a junior. I’ve done it just by keeping busy.
How did you ever make 75kgs?
Being six foot five, six foot five-and-ahalf, it’s alright if I put on a bit of weight.
Towards the end, where you’ve got to make weight it affects your performance. I wasn’t absolutely killing myself but the whole making weight thing does affect you.
When I went up to 81kgs, I’d be walking around at 79, 80, comfortable at the weight.
Even now going up to 91kgs, obviously everyone’s a bit more heavy handed, but the pace has slowed down.