Interview with Richard Cadden (January 2003)

Richard is the current ISKA British Champion, WAKO-pro English Champion and ranked number 3 in Britain in the independant rankings. Fighting out of Bad Company Gym, Leeds under Richard Smith he has done some interesting things in the last 6 months including fighting in the IFMA Finals and getting in the ring with a Rajadamnern Stadium Champion - here he takes time out to tell us a bit about those experiences.

How did you first get involved with the sport?
I have been involved with Martial Arts since a young age. I trained and competed in Judo from 7 until 15 years old. I got to brown belt and won a bronze medal at the UK Championships (although I was only 60kgs, I fought in the open weight category as I was the best fighter at our club). I then moved on to Aiko-Ju-Jitsu, Tai-Kwon-do, Kung-fu and eventually found Semi-contact Kickboxing. I trained with Mike Clark (a.k.a. Mick the Kick) and competed at the Regional Championships and won a silver medal, only been beaten by Paul Lynch (Fighters Mag have done a feature on him and he is a really big name in the kickboxing world). Then due to political situations, the Kickboxing club closed down and this is when I met Andy Wilby. He was training at the kickboxing club to supplement his Thai training. At that time he was training with Sandy Holt and Ronnie Green. He then started to train me under a thaiboxing regime.

Why the switch to training in Leeds?
I was training three times a week with Pierre Mahon at the two Kao Loi gyms in York and Harrogate and with Andy Wilby at the Way of Life Gym. I had two amateur fights under their instruction, also I was going over with Pierre once a week to train with Richard Smith at the Gym on Harehills Lane, upstairs in Saint Aidens Church. It was then I had a chat with Pierre about competing more regularly, and he said that he could not offer me the commitment and get me the fights I wanted. However, he recommended that Richard Smith could. This is when I moved to the Bad Company Gym with Mr. Richard Smith. There is no bad feeling with the gyms back in York and I sometimes call in for a bit of supplementary training

Why did you start competing?
Training and competing have always gone "hand-in-hand" for me, not only with my martial arts, but I also played professional Rugby up to Academy Level, so I was used to hard training and having a match every week. When I first started at Bad Company I was entering interclubs, doing extra sessions and going to Pele's on a regular basis. I couldn't get enough!!! So competing just seemed to be a given.

When was your first fight and how did it go?
I had my first fight at Dean White's show in February 1998, against Lee Cook from Kaobon (Liverpool). This was matched at 69kgs after 4 months of training. I had been watching all the Thai videos and thought I had a good idea of what was going to happen. As it was only three rounds, the first would be a feeling out round, second building up and third round flat out. So, I came out "Thai-style"...slow, Lee, obviously had other ideas! He came steaming in and dropped me with a one, two, left hook combination...all in the button, a cracking technique, if I say so my self! (they actually used it as the opening fight sequence for the promotional video... cheers!) >From this point I realised that it was going to be nothing like the videos and just clinched him up to stop him boxing my head off. The rest of the fight was a basic novice fight, but I felt I had had a baptism of fire. Lee ended up winning because of the knock down but it was a good learning experience for me.
.... I fought 2 weeks later and beat Kenny Storey from a gym in Bishop Auckland at an IAMTF show in Rochdale.

And what about your first title fight?
It was a wicked show with a good line up. Frankie Hudders, Warren Brown & Mark Mathews (infamous bout) and Chris MacDonald were all on the show.
I fought Darren Collins for the 62kgs English Title. I trained like mad for the fight and ended up weighing in light, I was 59kgs and he weighed in bang-on 62kgs. I had fought him at Ritzy's Nightclub in Leeds a year previous and it was a tough fight then, so knew it was going to hard again. I had been to Thailand again in between these fights and learnt some good effective techniques which stood me in good stead. I came out in the early rounds and hurt him with strong kicks to the body and legs. Later in the fight I was making him react whenever I went to throw a kick, so I started to use my punches. I ended up hitting the top of his head and actually fractured my right index knuckle on his head!
I was absolutely over the Moon after the fight. I had this reinforced by Eval Denton and Ashley Guishard, who both commended me on a good fight. Cheers guys!

What titles do you hold now?
I currently hold the ISKA 62KGS Lightweight British Title, and the WAKO-Pro Lightweight 62kgs English Title.

You competed in the IFMA finals in Bangkok last Summer - can you talk us through that experience?

I found out about the tournament 2 weeks previous to going out there on holiday and decided to enter. Richard sorted out most of the stuff with Ralph Beale and I met him out there. It was an absolutely amazing experience, seeing some of the big (non-Thai) names in the sport all in one place.
Due to the late entry, tournament situation and weight categories I entered the 63-67kg weight category. With two weeks preparation and not wanting to drain myself for the weight I saw this as the best option. The whole tournament was under full rules, which was an experience and another step up in itself.
My first match was again an Iranian. He came out like a steam-train, but I had learnt to weather the storm a little and he burnt himself out in the first round. I started to open up in rounds 2,3 and 4 and won on points. My next fight (the next day) was against Heung-Dak Wing of Hong Kong. He was a strong favourite in the weight category and he had had a tough fight the day before with the Australian, so I was looking at capitalising on the injuries the Aussie had inflicted the day before. I was landing more variety of Thaiboxing techniques, and all he was doing was a basic box and low-kick combination.
It was a draining fight in such intense heat, on top of yesterdays activities as well, and in the last round both of us were shattered. When the final bell went he went running round the ring and doing star-jumps, trying to show how fit he was... I dropped to the canvas and squeezed out 5 press-ups, but had to get up before I embarrassed myself!!!!!
He ended up getting the decision, but a few people thought I was robbed (my corner, most of the Aussies and a few Thai's watching). But... to be honest, I was really pleased to make it that far in the competition with the preparation I had done and found it an absolutely wonderful experience. I met a lot of brilliant people on the tournament and on the last night we all went for a night out down Sukhumvit, I was with the Irish lads most of the night (and the less said about that the better!!!!)

Out of the different gyms you've trained at in Thailand which is your favourite?
My favourite gym is Jitti's gym, off Sukhumvit, Soi 49, which is really nice.

Jitti's old gym used to be good, based at the end of Kao San Road, but this has turned into a boxing gym now and has lost the atmosphere. The first time I trained there I sparred and did padwork with Rajasak Sor-vorapin, 2 x Rajadamnern Champion, that was another memorable experience.

What was it like getting in the ring with someone like Thai stadium champion Chanrit (September 2002)?
I had fought on the Kings Cup 2 months previous, I was riding high from that. I had fought a few international bouts and didn't class this one any different. I was matched up to fight someone from Pele's and had this one offered. I saw this as a better career building fight and decided to take this one instead.
Three weeks into training for the fight, Liam Harrison, at our gym spotted Chan-rit in the World Rankings of 1999 at 4th in the 55kgs category. At this point I had a bit of a reality check, but still thought it would be tough, but I am up for the challenge.
Coming upto the fight I felt fine and confident due to the work and training I had put in. I trained harder than ever before and was in wicked shape. All the normal fight feeling occurred on the day... everything was going to plan.
He came out to fight and I noticed straight away he was a south-paw. From the opening moments of the fight I took the hardest, heaviest kick I have ever felt to my back leg.
Everything I attempted to do was countered or nullified. But I had made it through the first round.
In the second round he dropped me with a right hand to the middle of the chest (I later found out he broke the cartilage in my chest), he then stalked me and dropped me with another and the final time was an elbow and a throw. Although at this point I was in survival mode I wasn't really putting up a fight. This is when John Blackledge stopped the fight.
I was trying to get up and continue but the referee had seen enough. He stopped me in 2mins 35sec of the second round.
I thought that I had felt the optimum power a 62kg fighter could produce, this experience told me otherwise. I can now appreciate, and quantify, the difference in levels these champions from Thailand are at,... and the growth we still have to make in this country to catch them up.
Given the opportunity I would fight him, and anyone else at that level again, as I learnt so much. I do not mind learning lessons the hard way and feel that this is how to take bigger steps forward.

Have you fought any other Thais?
I fought at one of the small thaiboxing events in Bangkok in June 2001 down Nana Plaza, off Sukhumvit Road.

Do any other notable fights stick in memory?
My last fight against Alan Reid at Leeds Town Hall where I defended my British Title. After being beat by Chanrit 4 weeks previous, this was a really big test for me. Coming off a lost and defending my title against someone I had lost to 2 years ago was a hard issue to come to terms with at first. Then after I got my head around the task in hand, I got on with training with business as usual. Again this was more of an opportunity to prove myself, than just another fight. Alan was second in the rankings, I was then at number 6.
No disrespect to Alan, but after being kicked by Chanrit, it felt like I was playing. I enjoyed that fight more than any before as, although it was hard work, I settled into the fight very quickly. I really admire Alan's unrelenting pressure style, but I was in the zone for that fight and I could not have had any harder preparation than a "warm-up" fight against a Rajadamnern Champion!!!
I heard that I actually broke Alan's arm in that fight, for which I do apologise. We do not get paid enough in our chosen pastime to disable us from work. I realise that Alan has a farm to run, and I am sorry. However, if the boot was on the other foot I am sure he would not hesitate to do the same to me! We all realise the risks we take when we get in the ring and Alan was really cool with me after the fight and... as he said "if you go swimming, you are gonna get wet!!!"
Big respect to Mr. Reid, (a. k. a. "Skinny")

When is your next fight?
I am to be matched up on Dean Whites show on the 2nd March against either a Belgian or French opponent. I intend to go out to Thailand again this year and train with Jitti at his new gym and I will probably fight another Thai over there again.

What are your ambitions and plans for the future?
Establish myself on the international scene as Mr. Smith has done. Take whatever titles come up (Commonwealth, European... even World), but all in all I want to be one of those "names" people compare/ model themselves on. I look up to people like Ivan Hippolyte and Jomhod... I would like to be one of those!
At the end of my career I would just like to be remembered as "a good fighter".

Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
I would like to thank my family for their unyielding support, all the close friends in the Green Tree Massive and Ainsty Crew for their continual ... and very vocal backing. I would also like to thank Andy Wilby and Pierre Mahon for setting me up with a good base knowledge, and Mr. Richard Smith for the management of my whole professional thaiboxing career. Thank you to all the lads in the gym for putting up with my obsessive /compulsive behaviour at training, and Sue Russell, my physio, for putting back together after my fights.
Lastly but by no means least, thank you for my bosses (Mr. Peter Terrett and Mr. Richard Davies) at work for being so understanding to my training needs and their interest in my pastime.
I am sure you will all be behind me in the years to come. In closing...." Watch this space!!"