Luke Blackledge " I just have to keep on winning and see what happens"
To reach the pinnacle of your chosen profession you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. This is no different for young professional boxers. Super-middleweight Luke Blackledge has started out his career with three wins on the bounce and is back out for his next contest in Colne on July 10th.
Even though Luke is only 20 he has been involved in the sport for years. He trained as a youngster but made the choice not to do any amateur boxing and made the jump straight into the pro ranks.
“When I was 14 I started doing a bit of training on the bags and pads at a gym in Southport. I just loved the training and still do. I also did some at a gym in Clitheroe where they did some cage fighting and that."
Luke, who was actually born as Luke Robinson, made his debut in October 2010 and looked good in the process scoring a fifth round KO win versus Stuart Tordoff. It’s important for a young fighter to have a good team behind him and Luke is more than happy with the people guiding his career .
“I train at the Kokoro gym in Accrington which has got a couple of other pros there. I mostly go on the road for my sparring including Kevin Maree’s gym. Steve Wood manages and promotes me. I met Steve when I used to do some lessons with Jamie Moore at their gym.
"Steve has done a perfect job for me so far, getting me the right fights and keeping me busy which is what I want."
So eight months into his career and still unbeaten is Luke happy with life as a boxer?
“Yeah I'm really happy with the way things are going, I'm loving the training side of things, loving being unbeaten.”
Mixing in the company of successful boxers can only have a positive effect on a young boxer and Luke recognises this.
“I have also been really lucky to get sparring with Kenny Anderson which has helped me no end.”
In his second fight Luke was matched against tough journeyman James Tucker, his fight preparation was hampered by a bout of shingles but Luke still took the fight when he was nowhere near 100% fit. He won the fight 59-56 on the cards which was a great result considering the circumstances.
In his most recent fight, against Adam Stretton, Luke got off to a flying start putting his opponent down in the first round on route to a comfortable 40-35 points win. So what does Luke feel his best assets are?
“My work rate in a fight is really good, that’s one of the things i concentrate on. My power is improving all the time, it’s not quite there yet but keeps getting better every fight. “
Luke has his feet firmly planted on the ground at this early stage of his career but is no different to any young boxer who has aspirations of winning titles.
“I have got ambitions but it’s a bit early to see exactly where im going at the moment. Im quite happy to just take it as it comes. I would like to get an area title maybe at the end of the year. I just have to keep on winning and see what happens.”
