Tamworth's rising Muay Thai star Josh McCulloch hopes to send his career into overdrive with back-to-back wins against quality opponents.
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Fresh from his recent points defeat of Perth fighter Murray Brockman, the 19-year-old will face fellow New South Walshman Nathan Jones for the Muay Thai Australia 61.24kg NSW title at the Sharks League Club in Cronulla on October 12. Jones has 13 wins and three losses.
McCulloch, a 58kg national full-Thai-rules champion, will then fight undefeated Queensland teen Albert Tu'ua at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane on October 26. McCulloch will move up to lightweight for both fights.
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It is the first time in his career that he has been positioned to fight high-calibre opponents in such a short period of time, but he views that as a good thing.
He said: "It allows me to improve and show my skills set over a shorter time."
McCulloch said moving up to lightweight suited him, as that was his walking around weight.
"It just means I won't have to drop any weight [to fight]," he said.
He added: "They're both gonna be one of my hardest fights ... We just think Albert has a tougher style to beat than Nathan does."
Tu'ua has 16 wins and no losses.
In April, he won the WBC Queensland super-lightweight title.
McCulloch has won 11-straight fights and has a record of 14 wins, two losses and a draw.
If he wins both fights, he believes a shot at a South Pacific title may transpire.
If he won a South Pacific title, he said he may get a crack at a world title.