Eastbourne builder could be a punch away from fame as he prepares for debut bareknuckle fight

A builder from Eastbourne could be a punch away from fighting fame.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Charlie Milner has signed up to fight bareknuckle – and makes his debut on Friday (November 27) against a legend.

Milner has been matched with Eric Olsen and the fight gives the 27 year old the chance to make an instant name for himself in front of millions of fans around the world.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

SEE ALSO Eastbourne fighter hopes to become bareknuckle boxing hero | Why Eastbourne ace Bash has to win next bare-knuckle fight

Charlie MilnerCharlie Milner
Charlie Milner

The show will be beamed into more than 20 countries – and many of those watching will know Olsen.

The American is a veteran of MMA, kickboxing and bareknuckle boxing – and Milner said: “He’s a big name, one of the biggest names in the sport.

“I said to (co owner) Jim (Freeman); ‘I will fight him at short notice.’ I see it as an opportunity.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The last time Milner took a fight at short notice it went well for him.

At only three days’ notice the 6ft 5ins tall scrapper stepped in to face Matt Hudd in an MMA fight in Bristol – and silenced the home crowd with an 11-second KO !

Milner said: “I thought: ‘I will take that for £500’ and that turned up to be decent money for 11 seconds work.

“I had another win in 23 seconds.”

Milner has four wins in five professional MMA fights – all inside the distance – and says bareknuckle boxing will suit him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I don’t have to think about getting kicked or being taken down. I just go in there and let my hands go – and that’s what I do best.”

Milner, who has just opened the Slaughterhouse MMA gym in Eastbourne, has been letting his hands go since he was a boy.

“I grew up in Brixton,” he said, “and I was forever fighting bullies.

“If you let them take the mickey, they will keep taking the mickey and it will get worse.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“So I used to stand up to them and even if I got a beating, I got their respect.”

Milner knows he could get a beating on Friday night.

“Olsen has got big power,” he said, “and I have to be wary of his swings.

“We will see what happens when I land one on him."

Contributed by Matthew Bozeat

Related topics: