Welterweight boxer Chris Thomas has made it clear that while his primary aim is to remove opponents from the ring as quickly as possible, he will not sacrifice discipline for the sake of a highlight-reel finish. The 26-year-old, who lives in Kentish Town, is adamant that "the stoppages will come" as he continues to develop his skills in the professional ranks.
Gameplan Over Glory
Speaking after his recent points victory over Josue Bendana at the Harrow Leisure Centre, Thomas explained that he is not the kind of fighter who "wants to play with his food." Instead, he emphasized the importance of sticking to a well-executed strategy rather than chasing a knockout recklessly.
"I felt like I was stringing my combinations together really well, and I wasn't rushing my shots. I had a good defence, good head movement and I had plenty of energy," Thomas said. "And I didn't get hurt, which is always the most important thing."
He added: "You see some fighters becoming obsessed with trying to land a knockout. It's easy to get carried away and start throwing big, reckless shots. But I stayed focused, stuck to the gameplan and earned the victory."
Respect for a Tough Opponent
Thomas, a former St Pancras Boxing Club amateur, offered praise for Bendana, acknowledging the Nicaraguan's experience and durability. "I think Bendana has had close to 60 fights and is very experienced," Thomas noted. "I hit him with some good shots, and did some damage, but he's a tough, tough guy and was still there standing at the end."
The Kentish Town-based boxer stressed the importance of maintaining pressure when an opponent is hurt. "It's important that when I hurt an opponent I keep putting the pressure on and get them out of there," he said. "I don't want to be one of those boxers who plays with their food. I want to stay focused and get the job done."
Building Foundations with Trainer CJ Hussein
Thomas has now won two out of two in the professional ranks, with both bouts fought over four rounds. He is hoping to secure a third fight this year before returning to the ring in 2027, when he will gradually increase the number of rounds.
Guiding him throughout his career has been trainer CJ Hussein, head coach at Saints. Hussein highlighted Thomas's dedication as one of his biggest strengths. "Too many young boxers who turn professional today want to focus on looking good and getting knockouts," Hussein said. "And I understand that, there's a lot of pressure to get noticed as quickly as possible."
"But it's about putting in the rounds, and learning the ringcraft. It's a tough career, and you've got to build the right foundations from the very start," he added. "You can't go into a four-rounder and just expect to knock someone out. You end up just throwing big messy punches. And what happens when that doesn't work? They get found out."
Amateur Pedigree and Future Plans
A product of St Pancras ABC in Kentish Town, Thomas enjoyed a stellar amateur career, winning the England Boxing Southern Area Elite title, the MTK Global Lonsdale Box Cup, and the London Elite Championships. His recent performance against Bendana drew praise from Hussein, who noted a significant improvement from his first fight.
"He boxed brilliantly, it was a big improvement on his first fight," Hussein said. "He took his time, showed great fitness, had a solid jab and was very professional. He broke the kid down, and gave him a nosebleed. I think that if the fight had been over eight rounds Chris probably would have stopped him."
