Elsburg fighter wins bare-knuckle belt
The former EFC fighter was overjoyed with the win, sharing the moment with his family, friends, and students.
“Elsburg can finally say it has a true champion” were the words of the newly crowned Titan Bare Knuckle Middle Weight Champion Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen.
Coxen achieved his dream of getting a combat sports title by winning the Bare-knuckle belt.
The former EFC fighter was overjoyed with the win, sharing the moment with his family, friends, and students.
ALSO READ: Germiston fighter wins gold in kickboxing tournament
Coxen made history by becoming the country’s first bare-knuckle fighter and winning all four battles via knockout en route to becoming the champion.
The championship match was on April 5 at the Italian Club in Bedfordview.
Speaking to Coxen at his Elsburg gym, he explained capturing the title was a long-awaited promise to his father and a tribute to his daughter.
“She insisted I win the title for her the night before the battle. My father came through to congratulate me the day after I won the title,” said Coxen.
“I received this belt as a gift from God. A week before the match, I had conversations with the Lord, and my wife subsequently had a dream in which I dropped the opponent in a corner of the ring.
The dream manifested exactly as she saw it in her dream.
“This victory is emotional for me; it strengthens my faith in the Lord. The first rule in life is to put God first. That is why most people fail in life – they leave God out,” said Coxen.
ALSO READ: Germiston City Boxing Club needs your support
“I had people in the fighting industry messaging and contacting me to show support after winning the title.
When I got to the gym the next Monday, all day long, my students wanted to take pictures with me and the belt.
“I express my gratitude to my sponsors.
“Besides having fought in the country’s inaugural bare-knuckle battle, I am the first registered bare-knuckle fighter to win four consecutive fights with consecutive knockouts.
Now, I want to defend the title or consider switching weights and competing in a different weight class. The final objective is to compete in international promotions.
“My coach, Leo Gloss, supported me, encouraging me to run in the morning and drilled me at his son’s gym, Gloss Boxing World in Sunnyridge. My pupils would put me through a lot of training; the idea is to work hard and fight easily.
“Sometimes I could not drive, so eventually my wife would take us home. The training was hectic, but the benefits were worth it, and everyone was helpful. My goal is to finish bare knuckle without losing,” said Coxen.
The Elsburg native dubbed Thunder had a strong start to the year after winning his Titan Bareknuckle bout in the third round.
ALSO READ: Boxing icon among fans at Emperors
The MMA fighter and coach dropped his opponent twice in the second and third rounds, as well as once in the first.
When not training for his fights, he helps to prepare young talent.
His students have already shown significant progress in MMA with Louis van Collor, Vaughn Pretorious, and Kiara Willemse competing at the 2022 IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
According to his wife, the journey to Coxen winning the belt has been difficult and emotional.
“I support him in doing what he needs to do – make his weight loss meal plans and encouraging him to train,” she said.
“We experience all emotions and feelings as he does. It was satisfying to watch him win the belt because it made us feel like champions too.
“His entire family supports him and is proud of him.
“In the corporate world, they jokingly say, ‘Behind every successful man is a woman. In the sports world we say, ‘There is a woman behind every champion,” she said.
Coxen said that she would sometimes force him out of bed in the morning to do a workout.
“Without her, I could not accomplish what I do. She has been my rock of courage and encouragement. She has to do all the mental preparation for me before games or while I am practising.
“She is the reason I live. She is our pillar of support and a wonderful mother to our children.”
Coxen continues to work with schools, where he hosts dealing with anti-bullying and self-defence.
During the week, he hosts his afternoon classes with his pupils, some who qualified to be part of the South African MMA team.
The Gauteng team that advanced to the South African MMA Championships in Durban from June 12 to 15 includes these Thunder MMA students:
• Walro Fourie
• Jordin Coxen
• Nathan Graaff.
• Johandre Fourie
• Kayden Wasson
• Luvuyo Mnyenyevu
• Zander du Preez
• Ettienne Greyvenstein
• Dinizia Monteiro.
