Any kickboxing fan can tell you, this is a time of transition in the sport. Many of the old guard are either retiring or considerably slowing down. That makes it the perfect time for a talented young fighter to come in and make his mark on the sport.
Enter Josh Jauncey.
The 21 year old Lightweight fights out of Canada and is a member of Team Souwer, training under the legendary Andy Souwer. With a 2-0 record in Glory, 21-4 overall, he has made a big splash in the past year, showing up on numerous end of the year lists as one of the breakout fighters to watch in 2015. And that’s exactly what Jauncey wants:
I want to break into the top 10 in 2015. I’m ready to fight and want to fight more. Two fights in a year is not enough, I’m ready to fight a minimum of 3 or 4 times. I want to be a champion. Before I turn 25 I want to be the world champion.
With his 22nd birthday coming up shortly, that’s a tight timeline to become the best in the world in arguably kickboxing’s toughest division. Yet watch Jauncey in the ring, or speak to him outside of it, and you realize he can pull it off. A vigilant student of the game, Jauncey has looked incredible in his two Glory outings, taking out veterans Warren Stevelmans and Jae Gil Noh. Now, this Friday as part of the Glory 19 Superfight Series, the #11 ranked Jauncey looks to extend his Glory streak to 3-0 as he takes on the 13-4 Max Baumert.
I spoke to Jauncey on the heels of his last victory at Glory 18 – check out what he had to say in this exclusive Bloody Elbow interview:
On the success of Canadian fighters including Jauncey, Glory Welterweight champion Joseph Valtellini, and highly ranked Gabriel Varga:
I think Canadians are willing to look at other styles. We’re not stuck like Americans, I don’t want to talk bad about them, but everyone is stuck in their style, everyone wants to be just a Muay Thai fighter or whatever. Canadians, I think we’re more willing to adapt to learn from the Dutch style, from Europe, from Thailand to make it a little bit of everything. We don’t have the ego.
On growing up with kickboxing:
My dad was a champion and he’s been training me and my brother since we were three years old. We’ve always been around the sport, we’ve always been around the gym. It’s where we hung out. That’s everything. Kickboxing is my life, it’s all I do. I watch fights all the time, I train all the time. I’m constantly seeing new things, trying to bring in new things. I wanted to throw a rolling thunder in my last fight but I didn’t get a chance, it was too quick! But I’m so happy I’ve been around the sport for so long.
On working with the legendary Andy Souwer and if there is pressure being on such a prestigious team:
I’ve always really admired Andy Souwer and now I’m part of his team which is a dream come true. Since I was 10 years old and saw him win the K-1 it’s been a dream of mine and now I’ve made it happen. I know I don’t have the exact same style as him, I’m a little bit different, but that’s fine. But I’ve always admired Souwer, Ernesto Hoost, Rob Kamen, a lot of the Dutch fighters. I like fighters who use movement and don’t just stand there. You can make it a good fight without just standing in front of the guy.
Representing Souwer I don’t feel pressure, it makes me feel good. It feels good having him in my corner, knowing I’m accepted by these guys, these legends, that they want me to be a part of their team. It doesn’t give me any pressure, it makes me feel at ease knowing that I’m there.
See Jauncey in action this Friday, February 6 on the Glory 19 Superfight Series. Bloody Elbow will have Glory 19 coverage right here, all week.
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