Debutant watch - Adam Dingsdale

Adam Dingsdale has been involved in boxing for over ten years now and Friday night sees the 23 year-old from Chatham make his professional debut.

Adam will be campaigning in the lightweight division and has been handed a good first test in the way of ever present Kristian Laight.

What made you want to start boxing?

I first started doing kick boxing when I was a kid, I started going to the local kick boxing club when I was about 9. I started to get quite good but the trouble was there wasn’t many kids at my age or weight to fight. I had about five kick boxing contests and then decided to join Brompton ABC which was my local amateur boxing club in Chatham. After joining them I had my first amateur contest when I was 12.

Did you have a boxing idol when you were younger?

I was always well into boxing when I was a kid, I used to always watch boxing on TV and never missed a Prince Naseem fight. My dad was a big boxing fan and we used to watch the old fights with Marvin Hagler in.

Did you do much amateur boxing?

I had a decent amateur career, I won a CYP title and boxed for England three times. I boxed for England against the USA and against France twice. I got to the senior ABA semi finals and two junior ABA quarter finals.

How do you know the time is right to turn pro?

I think the last couple of seasons in the ABA finals I felt I was quite unlucky in some fights that I lost. I’m 23 now and I’m not getting any younger so I didn’t want to wait around another year thinking I might be able to win the ABA finals so I thought the time was right now to have a go at the pro game.

Do you see a difference in the pro and amateur codes?

I have found a difference in the training with the strength and conditioning side of things. It’s a bit of a slower pace now, as an amateur I was always up on my toes and bouncing about. Now I am using my body weight and sitting down on my punches a lot more.

Do you work full-time alongside boxing?

I work full time for a maintenance company doing painting and decorating. Without fail I go running for two or three miles in the morning before work. I’m lucky that I can get home early most days and get home for a bit before I go off training.

What sort of fighting style do you have?

It really depends on who I am boxing. I can adapt to a style which is needed to beat the person who I am fighting.

What ambitions/expectations do you have for your pro career?

I think you’ve got to aim for the top, I will be aiming to go as far as I can. I will be looking to challenge for domestic titles and see how it goes from there.