The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-06-03, Page 29Sports
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t ic. (,<Kkâ˘ric'h Signal -Star
Sports Editor - Gerard Creces email:gsssports@bowesnet.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
7
1.
on-line: www.goderichsignalstar.com
Fowler reenters the ring for a shot at the top
Photo contributed
Goderich native Brad Fowler smiles broadly as he hoists his new trophy May 2 after defeating Ben Acosta
in Burlington. The fifth -round TKO earned Fowler the opportunity to fight for the world welterweight kick-
boxing title Oct. 17.
_ Germs_ Crime:
signal -star staff
Goderich native Brad Fowl-
er is back in the professional
kickboxing ring and once
again aiming for the top.
After a fifth -round technical
knockout against New Mexi-
co's Ben Acosta .May 2, Fowl-
er proved he still has what it
takes to fight for the title of
world champion.
The former world amateur
champion and intercontinental
champion will be fighting for
the Professional Kickboxing
Association title October 17 in
Burlington.
The road to the world cham-
pionship ring was a much -
delayed one for Fowler, as he
waited for dates and opponents
since his last title shot.
In 2005, Fowler first vied
for the title of world champion
against Chris Algerie, losing a
very close match.
"I was told I had a manda-
tory rematch within a year," he
recalled. "That never did hap-
pen."
A smiliar plan for a rematch
in New York fell through and
Fowler said he was content to
call it quits.
"At that point, I decided I
was going to retire," he said.
"Just because it was so up and
down."
In that time, Fowler could
also be seen coaching the Ca-
nadian national team as well
as working in his own gym,
Round One, in London. The
latter came about when Fowler
and some business associates
decided to start up a kickbox-
ing company and promote the
sport in Ontario.
In 2007, Fowler won an in-
tercontinental title in Trinidad
by fourth -round knockout, set-
ting the stage for another world
title fight
The decision to get into the
ring again was a tough one, he
said. Originally, he decided he
wasn't going to, but after get-
ting an offer to fight for the
world title, Fowler said he re-
considered.
"I talked it over with my
wife," he recalled. "She had
said she didn't want me to
fight anymore."
However, after explaining
the situation, he said she sur-
prised him with total support.
"She said, 'if it's something
you feel you need to do, I'll
support .you 100 per cent... I
said -I'm doing it,
"That's how it went."
Fowler said the 12 weeks
building up to the main event
will be filled with intense
training.
"I always design a program
leading up to the event," he
said. "It's hardcore training
before (the fight) so that you
peak at the right time."
He said his own fighting
style has matured throughout
the years. When he began, he
was more aggressive off the
opening bell. Now, he said
he's more of a mover, employ-
ing equal parts offence and de-
fence in his fighting.
"I'm more middle of the
road," he said. "I'm always ac-
tive, but I'm more of a defen-
sive fighter now." =a
At 5'8" and 147 pounds, the
welterweight Fowler said big-
ger isn't always better in the
ring - a mistake. many new
fighters make.
"A body-building type mus-
cle is not what you want," he
said. "You need strength, ex-
plosiveness."
-Fowler has both in spades.
He said his fighting incorpo-
rates about a 50-50 split be-
tween kicks and punches.
The fighter said he got his
start taking karate in Holmes-
ville in '1985.
"I'd never be where I am
if it wasn't for Ron Tyndall,"
Fowler said. It was during his
yellow -belt test that he met
one of his biggest inspirations,
Leo Loucks.
After a trip to watch Loucks,
a fighter from London, win the
PKA title in 1986, Fowler's fu-
ture in fighting was cemented.
"We all took a bus and
watched his world fight," he
said. "I've always looked up to
him, followed his career."
For now, he said he'll be
watching his weigth - to see
how it drops in preparation for
October .17, getting ready to
ramp up training for his next
attempt at becoming the world
champion.