With under half the fights of his more fancied opponent, Indigo Boyd is set to show the Victorian muay thai scene just what he is capable of as he begins final preparations to take on veteran Alexi ‘The Great’ Petroulias in the main event of Warriors Way 20 this Saturday night.
With 20 fights to his name and four separate kickboxing, K1 and muay thai titles, Boyd has now reached a stage where he must step-up against stronger and more experienced opponents as he looks to crack into the next tier of fighters.
2017 has been a breakout year for Boyd, winning four from four and collecting both the World Kickboxing Federation (WKBF) Commonwealth and International Sports Kickboxing Association (ISKA) Australian titles along the way. If his quest was to have his name mentioned amongst the elite lightweights in Victoria, he has certainly gone about it the right way.
In stringing together an impressive run of results this year, Boyd told Fight News Australia that he can attribute the success to a renewed focus and approach to training.
“I’ve put a lot more effort into other aspects of my fighting career. My organisation, nutrition and recovery work are massive factors that put me in a solid headspace. Improving these small things has made me become more of a professional athlete rather than just a fighter”.
The fight itself represents a sharp rise in competition for Boyd, who goes up against an opponent in Petroulias who is well-known for his technical muay thai style. With the fight coming together in a short period of time and little chance to adapt his training, Boyd’s focus has been on his own strengths.
“There’s nothing I can change to my style that Alexi won’t be able to adapt too. Everyone has seen Alexi and knows him, his style, elbows and technique are second to none. My training for this fight has just been about improving everything I already have and making it stronger and faster”.
“He’s just a man, he’s on a losing streak and is at his peak. I’m on a winning streak and am only just getting started. I’m ready, watch me.”
Quite often it’s the team around the fighter that help with their success (or failures) and Boyd is quick to acknowledge the effect his teammates and coach have had on his steady improvement this year.
“My head coach John Bowman has been a brother, mentor and a friend. He’s helped me with my life goals as well as sporting and is the reason I’m in the position I’m in. No one has ever believed in me as much as he does, It’s a great motivator to have someone like him in my life”.
While not wanting to look beyond the massive task that faces him this Saturday night, Boyd is clear when he says he has a pathway forward for his fight career.
“I want to be a true professional sportsman and I want to live the life of a fighter. I’ll be pursuing a career in health and fitness and helping train new fighters very soon. Once I have established myself as an elite striker and my name is amongst the best in Australian Muay Thai, the UFC will be my next goal”.
