On The Up: Titus Proctor claims debut knockout win in One Championship feeder series

Titus Proctor made an impressive debut in a One Friday Fights event at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

After winning the King in the Ring title in late 2023, Titus Proctor had a clear idea of what he wanted to achieve in his martial arts career.

“One Championship kickboxing world champion would be my ultimate goal,” he told the Herald.

“I feel like within four or five years I can get there.”

The 21-year-old has taken a major step towards that goal, with a third-round knockout win in his debut outing for One Friday Fights, One Championship’s feeder series held at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand.

Proctor, who fights out of Tihipuke Muay Thai in Hamilton, was dominant in his bout against Chinese fighter Liu Quan.

Fighting under Muay Thai rules at lightweight, Proctor, who went into the bout with a 20-0 professional record, dropped his opponent in the second round and twice in the third, with the referee waving the fight off late in the final round.

The win is the latest – and arguably the biggest – for the young Hamilton fighter. While fighting on the local scene, he accumulated a host of titles including national championships, a King in the Ring tournament and WKBF world middleweight title.

Trained by coach Daryl Dawson, Proctor is among a group of talented young fighters in the Waikato region beginning to make their mark on the local scene, alongside the likes of fellow King in the Ring champion Michael Isaac, Ethan Brockett and Hayden Crawford.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity,” Proctor said before the fight. “Fighting at Lumpinee is a dream for any Muay Thai athlete. I know it’s the proving ground for the world’s best and the pathway to One Championship. I’m excited to test myself and represent New Zealand with mana and hard work. Nothing changes – back to the gym, back to improving every day.”