DARREN Finn has come along way since his successful Muay Thai and kickboxing career where he won a World Cup Martial Arts Championship and an Australian Karate title.
Two years ago after an 18-fight winning streak in kickboxing, Finn thought he would chase a new challenge.
He fought against Adam Jones of Yamba with a torn left cruciate ligament for the Northern NSW Amateur Light Heavyweight title in one of his maiden fights, today five battles later, Finn’s star is on the rise after his recent bout against promising youngster Kurt Aldridge resulted in a points decision win for the local boxer on the weekend. It will also be broadcast on Austar.
Finn’s boxing bloodlines are evident for all to see. He comes from good fighting stock that includes Bartholemews, Boneys and Uncle ‘Owen Slaughter,’ who were all renowned for having fists of stone. Yet Finn credits good mate and fellow warrior Nick King for ‘flicking the switch’ and supporting him and it is this newfound dedication that has fighters from across the land queuing up to fight him.
“I realised that in some of my fights I had the skills but lacked fitness,” said Finn.
“I wasn’t serious about it and then some good people like Nick and Ben Burridge got in my ear.
“Now I am gearing myself towards an assault on the boxing fraternity, kickboxing and eventually into the No Holds Barred industry – a style of fighting where anything goes.”
Finn has fought at various weights from light heavyweight (82kgs) and is endeavouring to get down to super welterweight (70kgs) that is the same weight as other boxing luminaries like Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad. He firmly believes that this division is his ideal fighting weight.
“My next bout is on the Peter Hallett undercard on December 12,” said Finn.
“I am waiting for a match-up but I am training hard and doing all the things I need to do.
“Peter Hallett is a hugely respected promoter who recently had fighters on the Shane Cameron-David Tua undercard so he is without a doubt a man who can pull a night together,” said Finn.
But Finn is not all about fighting. One of his goals is to open a boxing gymnasium that works in tandem with Nick King and gets the local kids off the streets.
“Inverell has always been synonymous with good boxers and at one time used to be a hub for the boxing fraternity,” he said.
“I am not looking so much to develop boys into boxers only as much as I am looking to give them hope, discipline, a sense of worth and responsibility.
“I am 31 now and I had to earn my keep and so can they,” he said.
“If I get through to one of them then I have done a good job in saving someone from a life that could’ve been worse.”
For Darren Finn though, it is evident that things will just keep getting better.
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