Michael Burgess On Upcoming Fight And More
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Michael Tristan Burgess has made remarkable strides in kickboxing since taking up the sport just over two years ago.
The 16-year-old is set to step into the ring on Saturday, where he will face American opponent Derek Wheeler in a junior amateur kickboxing bout on the Fight Night undercard at The Shed in Dockyard.
Representing the Bermuda Sanshou Association [BSA], Burgess is eager to put his growing skill set to the test against Wheeler, who trains at the Kaniwa Dojo in Amarillo, Texas.
“I’ve not seen my opponent fight, but my coaches are happy with how my training camp has gone, and I’m hoping for some good results [on Saturday],” Burgess told Bernews.
“I’ve been building on what I already know and ensuring I’m fight-ready. There’s been plenty of high-intensity drills and sparring.”
Before discovering kickboxing, Burgess trained in karate, but he was immediately drawn to the full-contact nature of his new sport.
He credits his coaches and team-mates, particularly Kaelin Cox, for inspiring him to keep pushing forward.
“I’ve been with the team for a very short time, but it’s been an amazing experience,” said Burgess, one of several BSA fighters competing on Saturday. “The BSA is a family I want to grow with.
“Coach Cyril Whitter, who was the first BSA coach I met, has really helped grow my love for the sport.
“Kaelin Cox, who competes in Wushu and Sanda, is a fighter I really look up to. He’s about my height, so I can relate to how he fights.
“He’s a very bouncy fighter, and I want to try and emulate him. His style is about evasion; he’s very sporadic in his attacks and powerful.”
A student at Saltus Grammar School, Burgess has already gained international experience, competing twice overseas – at the Fourth Pan American Kungfu Championships in Markham, Ontario, and the Pan American Wushu Championships in San Clara, California, where he secured a silver medal.
“Competing overseas for the BSA has been a great learning experience, and it was amazing to fight on the lei tai [the elevated fighting arena] for the first time,” he added.
