Battle Arena Northampton is right around the corner, and what an explosive line-up they have in store for the fans at the Northampton County Cricket Ground.
A stacked card from top to bottom of pro and amateur level Mixed Martial Arts mayhem will engulf Northampton once again, and will also see the return of Indy Box taking on Hayley Valentine in a barn burner of a Strawweight contest.
I caught up with Indy, as she prepares to take her long awaited 1st step on her professional journey.
Indy ‘The Fire” Box (0-0-0) is a professional Mixed Martial Artist currently competing in the Strawweight division. Indy has competed for Shock n’ Awe, Retribution Fighting Championship, Superior Challenge and Battle Arena through her amateur career. Indy will return to Battle Arena on May 20th to take her 1st step on her professional journey.
I’d like to kick things off by thanking you for taking the time to speak with me today Indy, and also to congratulate you on your upcoming inclusion to the Battle Arena Northampton card.
“Thank you.”
You’re very welcome.
I hope training camp has been going well in the build-up to your highly anticipated return to the cage?
“Yeah, it’s been going really good so far. I’ve had quite a long camp as I was looking for a fight before I got this one, so I feel quite relaxed about it.”
Even though you were unfortunate in your search up until now, it must be a huge boost knowing you’re absolutely ready, especially as this will your
“Yeah, it was unfortunate. Because there was such a big build-up to my pro debut in December, I had 2 opponents unable to make it into the cage. I feel like I’m carrying over what I had from that camp into this one, it does feel like it’s been a long process but it’s good though, it’s nice.”
Well worth the wait definitely, and hopefully after your foot is in the proverbial door of the pro divisions, cancellations won’t be much of an occurrence.
“As a female at this weight, it’s so hard to actually find an opponent, it’s quite frustrating.”
I can imagine.
The last time we had the pleasure of witnessing you in action was back at the tail end of 2022, in your explosive unanimous decision victory over Ellenor Sundqvist at Superior Challenge 25 in Stockholm.
Ignore doubt you’ve been itchy to get back out there and kick start your 2023?
“Yeah, 100 percent. I was hoping to have got a fight a little bit earlier in the year, I’ve been looking hard. I was hoping there would be another Superior on the 6th of May, but that didn’t happen in the end. But yeah, I’m looking forward to getting back in there, it’s 5 months into the year now, it goes so quick.”
Oh it really does, especially when you have children, hahahaha.
“Yes hahahaha, 100 percent that’s it hahahaha.”
On an incredible run of form leading up to your professional debut, you have secured the w in your last 3 walks to the cage, a compliment to your dedication to the brutal yet exhilarating world of Mixed Martial Arts.
A 4 year gap from 2017 to 2021 separated your victory over Charlotte Freeman-Laurence to your victory over rising star Shanelle Dyer, and actively has followed since.
Is activity on your mind as we look forward to the 2023 MMA calendar year?
“I want to have this fight so that I can have a little break just over the summer, because I live quite a seasonal lifestyle. I’m largely self-sufficient, at the minute I’m sitting outside my Polytunnel, planting cucumbers and things like that. So my life is quite seasonal the way that I live, but I’m hoping to definitely fight again before the end of the year, something like October/November time. To do 2 fights this year is probably what I’m aiming for, and see where it goes from there.”
I definitely envy you for the country air, I live in a concrete jungle, hahahaha.
“I used to live in the city for a bit, but once I got out here I haven’t gone back, hahaha.”
I do not blame you at all, hahaha.
Looking forward, you’re kick-starting the year off with a bang at one of the UK’s biggest regional shows, what can the fans come to expect upon your return, when that cage door closes on May 20th?
“I’d like to say people are gonna see more of an idea of what i can do in there compared to my last outing. My last fight the game plan changed literally 20 hours before I got in the cage over in Sweden, in their amateur rules you have to wear shins. To me, I felt like I couldn’t do any Jiu-jitsu. Because in MMA you don’t ever wanna give a good position away, and if you can’t get your leg out, my leg was getting trapped and things, so I simplified the game plan down. I wanna be able to show people that I’m not just a grappler, and Hayley is a very good grappler. I want to show people that I’m a n all-rounder and capable in the cage, show a bit of my striking and things like that. So a little bit more interesting than my last fight, where the game plan was just to smother and dominate basically. So I believe they will see something interesting from me out there, hahahaha.”
I’ll definitely make sure to tune in.
As the fans know only too well, easy fights are not your forte. For your highly anticipated pro debut, you are set to face off against yet another UK standout Hayley Valentine, who remains undefeated on her professional journey.
What do you make of Hayley as you prepare to collide in Northampton?
“I’ve followed Hayley’s career and we’ve trained together once or twice in the past, and I know she’s big on the grappling scene. She’s a Brown belt in Jiu-jitsu, she’s a pocket-rocket, she just doesn’t stop. She’s very tenacious in the way that she fights and I think this is a good match, I think it’s gonna be a good back and forth and I think she’s just gonna keep coming at me. I’m grateful to Hayley for taking this fight, she’s in the same boat as me, it’s hard to find match-ups and she’s jumping up a weight category. My advantage though is that I’m a bit bigger, but I’m not letting that get into my head because I know how skilled she is, especially with her grappling.”
It definitely makes for an interesting fight, when I saw the mews it’s pushed me even more to try and get down to Northampton.
“Oh nice, that’d be cool.”
I shall definitely do my utmost best to get there.
As previously stated, Battle Arena has cemented themselves as one of the UK’s fiercest promotions, playing host to some of the most explosive fighters from the UK and beyond and May 20th will be no exception.
Other than your inclusion on the night, are there any confirmed fighter’s or confirmed bouts in particular that you’re looking forward to witnessing?
“I have seen that there is gonna be another female fight there with Alexander Petrov vs Sorrel Watson. That always piques my interest, I’m really interested when I see other girls fighting on the show. Because it just seems like they are so few and far between and it’s nice to see other females on the card, so it’s a fight I’m definitely looking forward to seeing.”
Absolutely agree, that will be a great fight for the Strawweight title. And I completely agree, it’s very rare to see the ladies of MMA on the regional scene in the UK. I hope to see more of you guys out there as the year progresses on.
“Yeah, the girls are very few and far between at the minute.”
I couldn’t agree more.
It’s been an absolute pleasure speaking with you today Indy, I wish you all the best for the remainder of your preparations and I look forward to witnessing you out there once again mate.
“Thank you for asking me for the chat. I’m honoured, thank you very much.”
My pleasure Indy.
Last but not least, do you have a message for the fans that will be in attendance and anybody you’d like to give a shout-out to?
“To the fans out there, I hope I can put on a good show, an exciting fight and showcase my all-round skills. I definitely like to go out there and give a crowd pleasing fight, I’m known for it. I’d like to give a shout-out to all the gyms that I train at all over the place. And a big shout-out to my sponsors Isle of Wight Mushrooms who keep me supplied with supplements. I’ve also got my chiropractor Teresa, big shout-out to her.”
Catch Indy and a huge host of explosive warriors take centre stage in Nottingham on May 20th, grab your tickets for this one guys, I can guarantee fireworks.
Tickets are available from the fighters and the Battle Arena team.
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