REDLANDS local Brad Walton is in the final stages of intense training as he prepares for Bare Bones 2 on April 18, where he will fight Kody Forrester for the world title in the World Bare Knuckle Fighting.
Walton is fine-tuning every aspect of his game, with bare-knuckle boxing requiring a completely different approach from his traditional Muay Thai style.
He said he is carefully balancing precision, distance, and power to ensure he’s ready for one of the biggest bouts of his career on home soil for the very first time.
“I had a pretty rough upbringing, and that led me to martial arts,” Walton said.
“I wanted discipline, toughness, and to work on my mental strength.
“Martial arts gave me that, and it just took off from there.”
Walton’s fighting career began at age 20 and has evolved into the Muay Thai world, where he’s claimed 11 championships including a world title before moving into bare knuckle fighting competition.
“Last year, I trained for my bare-knuckle debut in the UK because it was illegal here in Australia at the time,” he said.
“I fought Oshea Davis, someone with over 100 professional fights and won.
“That opened the doors to bigger opportunities.”
Walton said fighting bare knuckle meant even higher stakes, for reasons you may not initially guess.
“It’s very different from Muay Thai,” he said.
“I’ve gone from eight limbs to just my hands, and from gloves to bare fists.
“Training is intense. Six hours a day of conditioning, fitness, and technical work – but it’s worth it.”
Walton credits his partner with helping balance family life, their two children, and running their Redlands gym, Legacy Thai Boxing.
“She’s incredible. She keeps everything running while I train,” he said. “The gym focuses purely on Muay Thai, which is my first love.”
As for his opponent in this big fight, Walton is taking a strategic approach.
“He’s a brawler, so my plan is to stay long, stay technical, and manage my shots,” he said.
“Bare-knuckle is a very different game. You can’t throw everything into one punch.”
For those critics who are critical of combat sports, including Muay Thai, Walton’s message is clear.
“It’s brutal, yes, but better in a safe, controlled environment like a ring,” he said.
“It teaches focus, discipline, and mental strength.”
Walton admitted that he had been ready to retire, but this opportunity was too good to refuse, and he has signed a three-fight contract.
Beyond winning the world title, he hopes to bring one of these high-profile bare-knuckle events to the Redlands.
“It’s about creating opportunities for fighters in the community and giving Redlands fans a chance to experience it live,” he said.
