Ryan McFaul: Boxing, rugby, cricket... no problem
“I suppose I have a bit of competitive drive in me, just to push myself to succeed in whatever I put my mind to.”
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Ryan McFaul is feeling a little ‘gassed’ at the moment, and he has every right to be.
By day the 24-year-old is a builder. By night he’s a sports nut who’s prepared to have a shot at many things.
At a decent level, it should be pointed out.
Since he was about 15 McFaul has featured for Waikoikoi in Southland’s premier club cricket competition during the summer.
After leaving St Peters College in Gore he joined the Eastern-Northern Barbarians to play in Southland’s premier club rugby competition during the winter.
Although he had to skip the Barbarians’ round six game against Pirates-Old Boys on Saturday.
He was instead preparing for his debut amateur boxing debut in Gore.
McFaul took on Giani Jackson from Papanui in Christchurch in an elite male 75kg contest. He won by unanimous decision much to the delight of the home crowd.
McFaul says it was a close fight, but he was confident he would get the decision given he delivered a standing count the way of his opponent in the second round.
Those in attendance erupted as he was named the winner by unanimous decision.
“I had a massive support crew with all of my mates. All of my rugby mates, all of my cricket mates, they really got behind me so when I was in there it felt pretty good.”
McFaul describes the boxing experience as weird considering he’s come from team sports.
“It’s hard to describe. It’s just you and him in there and no one else can help you.”
McFaul had dabbled in a bit of boxing training when he was younger before deciding to pick it up again later on.
“About and half ago I got back to the gym and fell in love with it again and did some more sparring and it went from there.”
From the start of this year, he’s focused on Saturday’s fight, in amongst his other sporting and work commitments.
His training schedule has been brutal.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays boxing, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at rugby with the Barbarians.
Why though?
“I suppose I have a bit of competitive drive in me, just to push myself to succeed in whatever I put my mind to.”
As he reflects on his debut fight he admits to feeling a bit gassed after a heavy training workload of late.
He’ll now focus solely on rugby for a bit but has every intention to continue to pursue boxing.
He hopes to have another fight in the next three or four months.
McFaul’s next sporting assignment will be a top-of-the-table showdown with Woodlands on Saturday in Southland’s premier club rugby competition.
McFaul’s win over Jackson was one of 16 bouts on a jam-packed card in Gore on Saturday night.
The feature bout was Southlander Jesse Hawkins’ showdown with Papanui’s William Vuidreketi in another elite male 75kg stoush.
Hawkins - who is trained by the experienced Russell Newton - won by unanimous decision.