Kickboxing: Son's own battles motivate 'The White Sniper'

Chris Johnson (left) and Charles August ham it up at last night's weigh in. Photo / Paul Taylor

Should the going get tough for Hawke's Bay's two-time world kickboxing champion Chris "The White Sniper" Johnson tonight, he will not have to look far for inspiration.

Johnson, who will take on fellow Aussie-based Bay fighter Charles "The Heat" August for Johnson's national 85kg K1 title in the feature bout at the Combat Kings Return of Legends event at the Hastings Sports Centre, will only have to think of his 18-month-old son Jude, who has cerebral palsy.

"Jude has been in and out of hospital but came out yesterday, so I left home today in a good frame of mind. I'm dedicating this fight to Jude," Johnson said shortly after he and August weighed in last night.

For Johnson, 35, the bout, which is scheduled for five three-minute rounds, is a revenge mission he has been waiting for since August beat him with a stoppage more than 10 years ago.

Johnson, who has been Sydney-based for 11 years, has plenty of respect for August, who has been Adelaide-based for 10 years.

"We all know what a brilliant fighter Charles is and it's no surprise that if he catches me with those big hands it's very likely I will go to sleep. I have a strategy and we will see if I can put that plan into place," Johnson said.

Like August, Johnson, has to balance fight preparation with the opportunity to catch up with family and friends.

"I've got a standard routine, which I will stick to in the morning.

"I've got a friend who will cook me a huge breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and mushrooms. After that, I will catch up with family and friends before I have a nap, and then I will snack light for the remainder of the day, have another nap and then switch into fight mode."

Johnson had two fights in the Bay last year, which he won against Wanganui opponent James Griffiths. He knows August will be a huge step up.

A winner of a World Kickboxing Federation middleweight title as an amateur and another as a professional, Johnson earned his nickname during his time in the army. International exponent Mike "The Black Sniper" McDonald was his favourite fighter as a youngster.

August, 36, said he came home to visit family once last year and he will make the most of the opportunity to do so again today.

Whenever August returns to the Bay, he makes a point of having a meal at the Bollywood Star Indian Restaurant and then an icecream from Rush Munro's.

He has heard about the knockout win in his favour prediction from his former trainer Hape Ngaronoa.

"I will give it a good go but I know Chris is a warrior in all aspects of our sport.

"He is a respected person who has made a very good name for himself," August added.

Former Wairoa kickboxer Jamie "VDK" Van Der Kuijl will make his pro MMA debut when he takes on Waikato's Matt "The Viper" Vaile, in a bout scheduled for three five-minute rounds.

The other main card fight will see Genitane "AAA" Lupi of Wellington take on Aucklander Daria "The Boss" Smith in a kickboxing clash scheduled for five two-minute rounds.

A mother-of-three and actor-stuntwoman, Lupi lived in Napier while completing a diploma in performing arts. She is a boxing world champion and a national champion in Muay Thai and boxing.

Smith is also a mother and a current ISKA South Pacific champion. Lupi won when they clashed in a four-woman comp last year.