A KIRKMUIRHILL man nicknamed Mowgli is like an animal – in the kickboxing ring!
Alex Davidson, who recently became British CMAA Kickboxing Champion, told Gazette Sport that he's had the Mowgli nickname since childhood.
The 22-year-old said: "I first got the nickname at Strathaven Academy.
"It's because they reckoned I was the spitting image of the boy out The Jungle Book.
"I don't mind the nickname at all. It's how I'm known.
"I don't have Mowgli printed on the shorts I wear in the ring, but I wouldn't rule out having that done in the future."
Mowgli produced an all-singing, all-dancing display to give his latest opponent the 'Balloos' in their British Championship fight in Craigneuk on Saturday April 26.
Roared on by an enthusiastic crowd of 400 – including his girlfriend Gemma Blair – Alex enjoyed a unanimous points victory over an experienced Craigneuk fighter in his mid 30s.
"It was a tough fight," Alex said.
"I don't remember my opponent's name, but he was quite a hard wee guy.
"It was nerve-racking going out to fight, because there was a buzz about the hall. In the first round I realised I was fitter than the other guy. And at the end of the five rounds we fought, I wasn't out of breath or tired. I could easily have gone on for longer.
"I was happy to win, but felt I could have performed better. This is definitely the biggest thing I've won.
"It was an amazing feeling. I was over the moon."
Alex, of Strathaven Road, celebrated the British title triumph in style, by enjoying a steak meal with family and friends the next day.
The youngster admits he owes a lot of his success to trainer Gordon Scott-Russell, his boss at Ashgill-based GSR Fight Team.
"I couldn't have won it without Gordon," Alex added.
"I trained exceptionally hard. In the weeks leading up to the fight I was training seven days a week.
"I was doing two and three hour sessions, including bag work, chest sparring and shadow boxing. I try and stay off fatty foods for three or four weeks before a fight. Gordon recommends that I eat plenty of pasta and a lot of high protein stuff.
"I could hear him shouting during the British Championship fight. He told me to keep pressure on him and keep my hands up."
Now that he's a British Champion, Alex - who stands 5ft 8'' and weighs just under 11 stones - has set himself a list of kickboxing targets.
"Winning the British CMAA title is a stepping stone to bigger things for me," he added.
"I'll have a British WKA Kickboxing Championship fight at the Mega Bar in Motherwell in June or July. I'm optimistic I can win that one as well.
"Another ambition of mine is to qualify for the European Championships next year."
Mowgli's senior kickboxing fight record now reads five wins, two losses and one disqualification from eight fights.
Never mind Sheer Khan – this boy's sheer class!