Damian Kusz: The ISKA belt will be a prize for all my hard work

At Warrior FC V Damian Kusz walked out to the ring as a relatively unknown fighter but in the space of five minutes he’d stunned everyone in attendance knocking out Dawid Blaszke, the favourite and current ISKA title holder.

On 8th October Kusz makes the walk once again but this time he headlines ‘Warrior FC 7: Blaszke v Kusz 2’ and looks to snatch the ISKA belt in similar fashion to the last fight.

The Macroom Thai fighter will no longer be known as an underdog and relishes the opportunity of standing opposite Blaszke once again.

“I won the last fight with Blaszke and I know that this was an unexpected win for me by the audience. This time people will give me a better chance of winning it. I don’t feel as though I’m the favourite as I don’t own the belt yet,” said Kusz speaking to Fightstore Media.

With his eyes firmly on the prize Kusz states that the ISKA belt ‘will be a prize for all the hard work and time spent training’.

He continued, “Becoming a professional fighter makes you want to gain more knowledge, experience and to keep going in that direction. This opportunity is right in front of me and I won’t waste my chance.

This fight has been five months in the making after their original rematch at Warrior FC 6 was cancelled.

Kusz admits that he was filled with ‘anger and disappointment’ when he learnt that the fight wasn’t going ahead.

“Preparing to any fight takes a lot of commitment, and finding out that the fight was cancelled makes you feel you wasted a lot of time and really hard work,” he said.

Refocusing your energy is never easy but Kusz knows what he wants to achieve in the sport and didn’t let the disappointment get to him.

“All I can do is not to give up and to keep going in the sport do the things that I love doing most,” he said.

As an outsider you would expect that there were hardly any negatives to take from his last performance but he explains that he’s learnt from a few mistakes he noticed.

“The last fight helped me to understand that I cannot commit such mistakes as last time. I need a tactical plan and my corner will help me win the fight.”

Kusz expects the rematch to be filled with emotion and knows that he is in for a very tough fight against Blaszke.

He will represent Macroom Thai on the night and feels a sense of pride to be associated with the gym.

“I am very proud to represent the club because I started training there under the eye of my trainer Andrzej Sliwa and train there until today. My perseverance and the help of my trainer led me here, where I am,” said Kusz.

If he emerges victorious we asked what his future plans would be but Kusz is only focused on winning the ISKA belt for now.

“My goal now is to win the next fight in Warriors FC, and later, if only I get the belt then I will try to develop myself and gain new higher goals, nations or continental titles,”

Kusz added that he was honoured to take part in Warrior FC 7 and hopes that his dream of winning the ISKA belt will come through.

The rematch offers a thrilling match-up and with the belt on the line both men will not want to take a step back. Will Kusz make light work of Blaszke again or can Blaszke find redemption?

Find out 8th October in the Good Counsel GAA and Camogie club. Expect fireworks!