Barton takes NSW kickboxing belt

EXCLUSIVE: Yass kickboxer Justin Barton has taken out the NSW Championship welter weight K1 division on the Monaro fight circuit.

Barton took just two rounds to beat opponent Ashley Chant, of Albury, at the Yass Soldiers Club on Saturday last (August 15).

“It only went two rounds – I stopped him pretty quickly,” he told Scoop. 

His was one of eight bouts fought at the venue on the night.

The shy, non-assuming athlete got into kickboxing three years ago as a 17-year-old, saying the “adrenaline rush” is what keeps him coming back for more.

The former Mount Carmel student has fought six competitive matches in that time, and only lost one.

Justin pictured with the coveted shield belt, taking a breather from training today. PHOTO Katharyn Brine

“There was one fight that was pretty bad. He kept kicking my legs and I ended up not being able to walk for two weeks. But that’s the only fight I’ve ever lost, thank God!”

It was a family friend who introduced him to the competitive ring.

“Dad got me into boxing in the first place, a good family friend is a fighter and he took me to his place to do some training… and that’s led me to where I am now,” he told Scoop.

PHOTO: Justin at last week’s bout in Yass. Photo supplied with permission.

Preparation for each event involves a “lot of training and a lot of running” – six nights a week. His trainer Peter Foster is based in Tuggeranong ACT, so it also involves a lot of commuting.

He sprints five 800m lengths in under three minutes at Victoria Park each night. The objective is to simulate the five two-minute rounds in the ring.

Barton has enjoyed a week off training to recover from the last event but was back into the regime again tonight.

“I didn’t end up sore at all last week, which is good.”

His advice for young up-and-coming athletes who want to break into the kickboxing circuit?

“Get into it while you’re young. It’s a good skill to have regardless, whether you just want to do it for fitness or you want to jump into the ring,” he said.