Kick boxer bounces back to take title

Carterton kick boxer Bryce Baron overcome the shock of being knocked down in the first round of his first fight, plus the disadvantage of being much lighter than all three of his opponents, to win a major tournament in Queenstown on Saturday.
The tourney attracted eight of the best heavyweights in New Zealand?.well, seven and Baron who at 88kg could hardly be cateogrised as a heavyweight by normal standards.
Baron, the reigning New Zealand cruiserweight champion, was optimistic of performing well in an event which saw losers in each round eliminated.
But he admits to having somewhat different thoughts when his first round opponent, who weighed in at 98kg, knocked him down in the first round.
"That certainly wasn't the plan?? I made a mistake and he caught me out," Baron said.
Fortunately for Baron though he was unhurt, and in typically aggressive fashion he took the remainder of the bout to his rival, finally knocking him out in the third round.
"I knew I had to knock him out to guarantee a win, it was all or nothing," Baron said.
That victory took Baron into a semi-final against an opponent weighing in at 117kg and there Baron was always in control, winning comfortably on points.
It was now onto the final, and here Baron had to square up to Rotorua's Josh Kahn, who tipped the scales at a massive 137kg.
For Baron the tactical approach was simple, keep the close contact situations to an absolute minimum in case Kahn got lucky and caught him out.
"I knew I was fitter and more agile, but I also knew that one mistake on my part and he would send me packing
"He's got a lethal left hook and I couldn't afford to catch one of those," he said. "I knew it would be curtains then."
In the end it was Baron's superior fitness which was the deciding factor, and for the second bout in succession he was deservedly awarded a points decision.
The 26-year-old Baron, who share milks in Carterton and trains out of Malcolm Harley's gym in Masterton, has now had a total of 26 fights for 19 wins and seven losses and he is keen for a strong performance at the world championships in Thailand next year.
Baron actually attended the worlds earlier this year, but had the misfortune to be drawn against the defending champion from Ukraine in his opening super cruiserweight bout.
However he was 'happy enough" to take the bout into the third and final round, especially when he learned his opponent had won his previous 10 bouts with first round knockouts.
And, what's more, the Ukraine fighter went on to win the super cruiserweight world title for the second successive year.
"It was a tough draw, but then again I had the chance to take on the best in the world, and not too many people can say that," Baron said.
"It was a huge learning experience for me and I can't wait to get back and have another crack."