Elsburg\u2019s Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighter, Pietie \u2018Thunder\u2019 Coxen, delivered as promised at EFC 61.<\/p>\n
Coxen went up against Congolese national,Tresor Boluwa, during their welterweight fight held at Sun City last Saturday (GCN, July 7, \u201cThunder is ready to roll\u201d).<\/p>
Coxen won the fight via a rear-naked choke in the second round.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bout was scheduled for three rounds but I promised ‘thunder’ and ‘storms’ and had to deliver on my promise,\u201d said Coxen.<\/p>
\u201cThis was great considering that I had not fought for a year because of an injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a bit nervous at first but managed to shake off the nerves and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coxen added that his win was well fought for.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first round was tough as Boluwa is bigger than I am and he used his weight to his advantage,\u201d said Coxen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI turned the tables around and hit him with a \u2018thunder\u2019 fist which caused him to pull back a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother thing that helped me was when my trainer, JP Kruger, told me to fight my own fight and not that of my opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis gave me a boost because I went into the second round firing shots. I applied all I had been taught during training over the past few months.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Elsburg fighter said this was his first submission.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my first submission as a professional fighter; I previously won via technical knockouts but never because of submission,\u201d said Coxen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really humbling to return ‘with a bang’ and I hope to keep up the momentum.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thank God for seeing me through the fight and for the opportunity to showcase my talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to my coaches namely, Kruger, Charl van Tonder and Neel Mahoney for preparing me for the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother thank you goes to my manager, Jimmy James, for his consistent support and to my sponsors, Panda Jiu-Jitsu, Andy\u2019s Bar, Digital ID Technologies and A2Z Truck and Trailer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coxen also thanked his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly appreciate the immense support I get from my family, friends and my community. It is truly humbling to know you have people rooting for you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to my teammates at House of Tinkerbell for also helping me prepare for the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful that I didn\u2019t pick up injuries from the fight and I hope to be back in the hexagon soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any fights yet, but I am already in training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am ready for more action.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n Thunder promised at EFC 61<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Leigh Hodgson (journalist)\u00a0leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0or Puleng Sekabate\u00a0pulengs@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/strong>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n