Feel the ‘Thunder’ as Pietie Coxen takes to the EFC 67 hexagon
Elsburg Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighter, Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen, is ready to step into the hexagon again.
When the GCN last spoke to Elsburg’s Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighter, Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen, he had just won his EFC 61 welterweight fight against Congolese national Tresor Boluwa.
The fight, which was held in July 2017, was Coxen’s first after being out of action for 11 months due to injury.
When asked why he had taken another seven months before entering the hexagon again, he explained that fighters often took some time between fights to allow their bodies to heal.
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“EFC is tough on the body, not only from the fight itself but also because of the training preparing for the fight,” Coxen said when the GCN visited him at his gym in Elsburg.
“We train four to five hours a day, including weekends, though I prefer to take Fridays off to spend time with my family.”
He had planned to fight in December, but things did not work out in his favour.
“But this setback hasn’t put me off my game. I have been training hard and I am ready to rumble,” he said.
Coxen, who recently started training under Ferid Basson at Junkyard MMA and with new sponsor LEBD Petrolium, will be facing Gunther ‘The Beast’ Kalunda in their welterweight bout.
When asked if he is worried about his opponent, Coxen said with a smile, “Kalunda is an awesome guy, we chatted a few times at different events, and he is very humble.”
Coxen went on to explain that Kalunda is a powerful fighter with a solid punch and a Congolese boxing background.
“As I come from a boxing background myself, I am excited about this and hope that he will stand toe-to-toe with me and trade a couple of blows, maybe some blood.
“But I am not worried about what direction the fight may take as I am confident in my ground skills.”
Coxen believes the match-up is going to be one for the record books.
“I am ready, but there are still a few nerves.
“A coach I once had always told me if you are not nervous for a fight you are not ready, and those are words I live by.”
In the final week leading up to the fight Coxen will relax his training just a little to rest his body.
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Having the home advantage, Coxen is thrilled that he will have the backing of his family, friends, supporters and fans at the fight.
“As soon as it was announced that EFC 67 would be held at Carnival City I received many calls from people asking how they could get tickets.
“I knew I would have a lot of support but I didn’t imagine it would be that much,” he said with a smile.
“We are ready, we have a game plan, with a trick or two up our sleeves.
“It’s going to a fight to remember.”
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