By James Bovington

Nathan McAdam has made Cockermouth his home and now hopes his adopted town will rally round him as he fights to become a bare-knuckle boxing champion this weekend.

McAdam, who moved to Cumbria from Sunderland five years ago, is preparing for his next bout in Mirfield, West Yorkshire on Saturday.

He will take on Allan Halbert at Fight Fest Five, an open-air show organised by Spartan Warz in which fights take place in pits made from bales of hay.

"I grew up in Sunderland but came to Cockermouth with my dad five years ago after GCSEs as we wanted a change from city life," said 21-year-old McAdam. "I love living in Cumbria.

"My road to the fight game was different to most. I’m a placid lad who never causes bother on the streets, but I always enjoyed combat sports.

"When I attended my first Spartan Wars event I fell in love with bare knuckle boxing. It’s the most brutal and action-packed sport there is.

"I’ve had one fight in Rochdale in 2022. It was in a pit, and I had ten weeks’ notice. I eventually took on a lad in the weight class above me.

"On fight day, I was a little bit nervous due to never having a fight before. I jumped in and struggled initially as I adapted to the environment.

"I soon sustained a gash under my eye but was allowed to continue. My head was then fully in the game. I caught the lad with a few big shots and dropped him to gain a first-round stoppage.’

The Mirfield fight will also be in a hay pit in a field which McAdam says "adds to the raw appeal" of bare knuckle.

He added: "I respect my opponent and look forward to meeting him on the day, however this is my first step to greater things.

"This is for the promotion’s British strawweight title over five two-minute rounds.  If the fight goes the distance and the medical staff deem you fit to carry on, then you go into a final round till someone cannot continue.

"There’s no time limit. We’re aware that there can be serious damage and my opponent’s face won’t be pretty at the end but there’s danger in all combat sports.

"The adrenaline rush outweighs all risk. Fighting bare knuckle gives me a safe place to channel frustration or anger into something I enjoy and am good at."

McAdam, who is due to become a dad to a baby girl in November, works with his dad Neil fitting bathrooms.

"My dad’s my biggest fan, in my corner when I fight," he added.

"His company Better Bathrooms is my sponsor but to progress in the fight game, I need more sponsors.

"If any local individuals or companies want to help it would be appreciated."

Nathan can be contacted via Nathan McAdam on Facebook or by email nathan2002mcadam@outlook.com.