Kickboxing: Professional dreams as Peter kicks out for gold
AN amateur kickboxer is dreaming of turning professional ahead of his next bout on March 21.
Peter Newbury, 25, will be bidding for a gold medal, from the European Marshall Arts Association, in the Men's +85kg category, at The All Seasons Leisure Centre, Water Street, Chorley.
But with the support of his two trainers, Graham McNulty and Matthew Walsh, and coach Richard Veevers, who has represented Great Britain in the sport at a World Congress of Amateur Athletes competition, Peter is looking to make the step up to professional martial arts over the next 18 months.
It would represent a remarkable achievement for Peter, from Cornholme, who only took up the sport for a second time six months ago after an eight year sabbatical.
He said: "My mum sent me to kickboxing because I had hearing difficulties at school and I used to get bullied because of it, so she wanted me to be able to look after myself.
"I used to do it when I was 13. I used to kick-box in Padhiam but at the time of the Burnley riots I had to stop because I had to catch two buses to get there and my mum didn't want me travelling through it.
"As soon as the chance opened up for me to get back into it in Todmorden I jumped at it."
Peter is originally from Bolton and moved to the area with his mum, Gillian Newbury, when he was 11, and his five-year-old son, Tyler, also lives in the area.
By night he is a door supervisor at The Golden Lion pub, Fielden Square – who are also his sponsors – but he also spends time training at his base at Above The Surface, Beneath The Waves, which is at the Queen Hotel, Rise Lane, and learning his trade at Mavericks Kickboxing Club in Halifax.
After the cancellation of his last fight, which was an inter-club fight scheduled for February 24, Peter has been training flat out for 11 weeks, in an attempt to be in peek condition for his next bout.
Peter admits that the main reason why he got back into kickboxing was to build up fitness and he advises everyone to give it a try.
Peter added: "It's a great sport to go into because it teaches you fitness and it teaches you discipline. The club I go to have numerous clubs across Calderdale and I would urge everyone to give it a try."
For ticket information for the event call Richard Veevers on 07588528212.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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