Andy Howson 1 on 1 Interview on his upcoming fight with Thanit "Boom" Wattayana, The Big Rematch for ISKA World Title.

waited rematch with Thanit “Boom” Watthanaya, how has your fight preparation been for this bout?

Andy: Yes the big rematch is just 4 weeks away now and I'm very excited for it. Preparation is going good, my weight is on track and I'm feeling fit and strong for the fight. I'm lucky that I've been getting the chance to head back home to Leeds every other week and get some great training in with Richard Smith and all of the Bad Company guys. Getting pads with Richard, Davy Mac, James France so far and this coming week Liam is going to start to spend time padding and clinching me also, now his fight with Pakorn is out of the way. Doesn't really get much better 😊 and the sparring here is next level and at all the guys are pretty huge next to me so I've been smashed about a fair bit in sparring and clinching but loved every minute of it, its setting me up well for the fight. Not to mention sessions with my strength and conditioning coach Steven Campbell this week, everything will just make me as fit and strong as i can possibly be. (Touch wood)

In 2012 Thanit stopped you in the 5th round of an amazing fight on Muay Thai in America (MTIA), how has this impacted on you?

Andy: After the fight i was totally heart broken and i questioned my ability and if i still had it in me to fight, that was the second fight in a row where i had clearly got the fight won and in the bag, but made a silly mistake or 2 and ended up paying the ultimate price and getting stopped. But after having a chat with a few people (Vinny Shoreman especially) I realised we all make mistakes and i vowed never to make that same mistake again, since then I've had great fights, won rematches and gained the WBC World Title so things are going well. I know the mistakes i made and you won't be seeing them again this time around. If anything that loss actually helped me regain my hunger and love for the sport and just made me hungrier to keep going and achieve all i can whilst i still have the time.

The rematch is for the ISKA World Title at 53.5KG has this motivated you to train harder?

Andy: To be honest the title is just an added bonus, the real motivation for me is the rematch with Thanit himself. Thanit is a great guy but i feel handed him the win rather than he took it from me. A mistake cost me the fight and my stupidity, that will not happen this time around.

What are your predictions for this fight?

Andy: I don't do predictions but all i will say is hold on to your hats, the last fight had 4 knockdown in it and was an amazing fight, this will be just as exciting i can assure you.

Do you feel you can beat Thanit this time around?

Andy: There is no "feel" about it, I KNOW i have the tools and the weapons to beat Thanit, i had him beat in the last fight, as i say a mistake took that away from me and i will not and refuse to make that same mistake again. This time the fight is in front of MY fans and MY family and MY gym memebers/fighters i will not be messing this up.