Scott McHugh takes part in the Road to Thailand tournament which kicks off at BKB 33 on July 29th.
The fistic fireworks emanate from Indigo at the O2 in London, England and the pugilistic proceedings are set to broadcast on Fite TV.
McHugh spoke to Dylan Bowker of Bare Knuckle News before the bout. Excerpts from the chat are below.
Scott McHugh
You as well as Aaron Sinclair, Jonny Lawson, and Sonny Smith will have your Road to Thailand bouts drawn on the day of the press conference. What were your initial feelings when this PrizeFighter tournament concept initially was presented to you?
“I just want to fight any rules. BYB, anything I’ll say yeah. I’m not even that bothered what it is. Not bothered to get drawn on there because I’ve already beat one of them in there. I know the way he fights; the other two Sonny (Smith) and Aaron Sinclair, game fighters and I’ll never underestimate anyone. It’s bare-knuckle but all I’m going to do is get down in weight. But bare-knuckle, one punch, you know what I mean? You can get cut, anything.”
“So I’m not gonna go oh, I’m gonna knock him out in the first round because I’m not that guy. I’m the humble guy. So I’m just gonna go in there, do what I do, and well obviously I’m going in there to win aren’t I? I’m very, very confident I’ll win all them… I know what I’m for against them all. I’ve studied them all, seen them all. Been training hard they all are. They all want to beat me because without being big-headed, I’m the biggest name. I’m the champion you know. So they’re gonna be training.”
BKB
How does it feel to be in this PrizeFighter tournament field with such a rich history backing these BKB tournaments? Also, what does it mean to you to have a chance to compete in Thailand during the finals of this four man bracket?
“Yeah, well that means the world to anyone, you know, fighting in Thailand, you know, in the final. It’s just something different as well something like PrizeFighter. Yeah, it’s just something different. It’s different than me belts. I’ve now vacated me belt well not just to do with PrizeFighter. I just thought, you know, there’s other lads that I have at my weight that want to go for the British title. People deserve it, you know what I mean, I can’t keep defending it all the time. Defend, defend, defend it.”
Scott McHugh continued, “I’ve already defended it a couple times now and I just want to move on to bigger things and give other people the opportunity.”
BKB 33
You’ve alluded to wanting bigger things in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing. Does that specifically represent pursuing Barrie Jones and world titles in other weight categories?
“Well yeah like I’m trying to do some work in this division now. Well, I am going up weight because I usually fight at 73 but I do walk around at this weight what I spar at. I usually like to drop a couple kilo anyway. So I think I’ll be a lot better and stronger at this weight. But like you say with Barrie Jones and anyone, I won’t call anyone out. Jim (Freeman) rings me, that’s who I fight. Who I’m fighting, no problem, I’ll fight them. I don’t go calling people out. I leave that to the big bosses to deal with.”
Road to Thailand – Scott McHugh
It seems like you’re eyeballing a bare knuckle Muay Thai bout in rapid fashion after this PrizeFighter final in Thailand. Can you give some more insights into that?
“Yeah well, look that’s definitely me plan. Win this PrizeFighter then maybe a couple of days after, do a bare-knuckle Thai boxing match or a Lethwei with elbows and headbutts. Who knows? That’s my plan anyways (laughs). Win the PrizeFighter Thailand then a few days after, have a few drinks and just ******* do a bare-knuckle Thai fight.”
‘I’m sure Jim (Freeman) and Joe (Brown) wouldn’t mind me fighting in Thailand if it’s a Thai boxing show with no gloves on, kickboxing and elbows. It’s Thai boxing isn’t it, with no gloves. It’s not bare-knuckle boxing. So hopefully we can get away with it (laughs).”
