Different discipline, but same determination for returning Brian Houston
Brian Houston has labelled this weekend’s ISKA Four Nations title fight in Liverpool as the biggest of his career to date.
The former K1 champion kickboxer travels to England to face four-time champion Kev Ward in the highly-anticipated Main Event of the Road to Rajadamnern UK Event on Saturday night.
Houston, now 27-years-old, has a rich kickboxing background, having been crowned a world amateur champion at just 18 years old on top of Irish senior, Commonwealth, Five Nations and European titles on a significantly decorated CV.
But after a five-year break, he has returned under a different disciple, which carries a different rule set entirely. Now representing Mayhem Thai Boxing, Houston is learning new skills in Muay Thai, which allows the use of punching, kicking, elbows and knees.
“There’s not many people, if anyone, from Derry, who have ever fought under Muay Thai rules; there has definitely not been anyone fighting for a title anyway, I know that,” Houston said.
“It’s like starting from scratch. I took two comeback fights at C-class but then we got offered this big fight, full Muay Thai rules, with elbows and knees and everything. It was too big an opportunity to turn down so we took it and we’ll see how we get on.”
Having stepped away from kickboxing at just 22, Houston never envisaged returning to competitive action, but he was soon drawn back into sport under coach Mark Cannon.
“I just fell out of love with the sport. I was doing K1 kickboxing for a long time but I just fell out of love with it,” he explained. “Coming back was a surprise to me as much as anyone else though. Mark started training at the club just before Covid so we had to take a bit of a break. But after Covid, we got stuck into it again and I just fell in love with muay Thai completely. I’ve already done it in kickboxing so hopefully I can do the same in Muay Thai now.”
Brian knows full well the strength of his opponent come Saturday; Ward is a five-time World Champion, an ISKA K1 world champion, a WKA K1 World Champion and a WRSA Muay Thai world Champion. But, with his experience on the world title stage to back him up, as well as his passion for Muay Thai, he is in no doubt that he will emerge victorious.
“I have fought for World titles and European titles before. It was like I was never away from sport when I came back to be honest with you. It was the same nerves and the same intention in the changing room. It’s just the same,” he explained.
“Kev is a four-time professional world champion and he was a kickboxer as well. We both have that kickboxing style but I think the Muay Thai style now will suit me a lot better with the kicks. Thai boxing is scoring with a lot of kicks, and he is a puncher while I am more of a kicker, so I think it will go in my favour.
“I have got a whole crowd of people coming down from Manchester, and I know people in Liverpool who are going and I have ones from Derry there as well, so I won’t be short of any sport anyway.”
Progress
Victory on Saturday will open brand new doors for Houston in a sport which he has progressed in quickly and one which he sees himself staying involved with for the rest of his life.
“Of all the fights I’ve fought, and I’ve fought for professional world titles and I’ve won amateur world titles, but this is definitely the biggest fight I’ve been involved in,” he said. “Whenever I win this, it puts me on the map then for the UK rankings, then it’s the European and the World then.
“With the Muay Thai, I think it’s going to be a part of my life for the rest of my life when it comes down to coaching and things like that. I’ve been coaching it already and I really enjoy coaching it as well so I think I’ll be involved in it for the rest of my life. It will also put the club on the map in Derry because we’re the only people in Derry that is doing authentic Muay Thai.”