Talented boxer Kaine Fourie sacrifices his childhood for his career
The 21-year-old boxer Kaine Fourie said the biggest challenge he faces is people doubting him no matter how much he gives.
North Riding-based professional, young, talented and fearless boxer Kaine Fourie continues to dedicate his life to the sport.
Fourie, well known as K9, was born in Kempton Park and his father, Kobus Fourie, was a professional boxer. K9 said that he fell in love with boxing at a very young age.
“Since I was very young boxing was all over the TV, because my dad was a professional fighter as well. We always liked boxing and it was the only sport we watched basically. I told my dad I wanted to fight when I was 10 years old but he refused and said I must wait till I’m 16 or 17.”
Fourie dropped out of school in Grade 10 to pursue his boxing career. “To be honest, I wanted to leave school early maybe in Grade 8. I didn’t know how to tell my parents so I waited. Two years later, when I was in Grade 10, I decided it was time to let them know what I want to do. It was hard to explain to my mother but my dad asked me to show him that I want to do this. I told him I will jog the whole year from school to the gym, 8km every day and I did.”
He started fighting armature in 2017. He had six fights and he lost two. He made his professional debut in 2018. “My first two losses – I never wanted to feel like that again, ever in my life. I just wanted to win from there. I changed coaches and I have won everything ever since. The feeling of winning was just better than losing.”
The 21-year-old boxer is currently ranked number one in the lightweight division in South Africa. He is the number one contender for the South African title fight and ranked number six for the World Boxing Federation (WBF). He holds a Gauteng title.
K9 explained the pressure that comes with being ranked number one in South Africa. “There is always big talk on my name. I love the pressure. Pressure is good for you, if you do not have it, you have nothing to lose – and if you have it, you have everything to lose. I like it and if people are talking about you it motivates you and makes you train even harder.
Fourie explained that he trains every morning from Monday to Saturday. “Basically, mornings I eat breakfast and go to the gym from 8:00 to 11:00 morning sessions. I go home and rest then I run 10–12km around 15:00 to 16:00 and take a break; from 18:00 to 19:00 it’s strength and conditioning. It’s basically eating, sleep, train.
He told Randburg Sun that he has sacrificed a lot for the sports. ”I made a lot of sacrifices I did not have a normal childhood, I was busy training, and I did not have a matric farewell and matric dance but all the sacrifices are paying off now. We are doing much better with my family, life is better.”
He advises other young and upcoming boxers to not listen to any haters and negative people. “To all the young boxers out there just do it. Anything is possible in this life if you can dream it, you can achieve it.”
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