Queenstown fighter Rob Horrocks is hoping to bring home the belt this weekend, after waiting 15 months to get into the ring.
The 33-year-old’s due to take on Auckland-based Ale Taumalolo in the final of the inaugural 64kg Apex Muay Thai Warrior Series.
Happening on Auckland’s North Shore on tonight, it’s the last of a three-fight series — the first was in December, 2020, and Horrocks’ semi-final was last May.
He’d been due to fight Taranaki’s Travis Schwitzer last September, but that was postponed twice, and he’s since retired.
Horrocks believes Taumalolo was the original favourite to win the series.
‘‘I’ve not faced him before, but I’ve watched him fight a few times.
‘‘He’s a really skillful and strong opponent, really, I think it’ll be a good fight.’’
However, he’s backing himself to bring the title — and the $4000 prize money — home.
‘‘I’m training flipping hard, so let’s hope so,’’ he says.
Meantime, he’s proud as punch of Anurag Thapli and Aoife Whelan, two amateur novice fighters he coaches, who came home from last Saturday’s Asylum fight night in Dunedin with wins — it was Thapli’s first fight, while Whelan toppled a previously unbeaten opponent.
