Josh McCulloch: Muay Thai champ to fight for South Pacific belt

Coming off a successful defence of his Martial Arts Sports Association 58kg national title in Sydney in March, the 20-year-old Tamworthian will fight Hamilton-based Kiwi Alejandro Tellez for MASA's vacant 60kg South Pacific title at Punchbowl on August 14.

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It will be the biggest fight of a career that his trainer, Scott Chaffey, said would only get better.

"This is the next step," Chaffey said of McCulloch's career.

"We've got to take on this tough opponent from New Zealand, to hopefully then secure a shot at an amateur world title."

Chaffey said Tellez held titles in the World Kickboxing Federation, and has 13 wins from 20 fights.

"Being a New Zealander, he's gonna be tough, he's gonna be strong and he'll definitely come to fight," Chaffey said. "So we'll be prepared also."

McCulloch - who has 16 wins, two losses and two draws - has not lost in years and will headline the Punchbowl event.

"He's only getting better with age and maturity," the trainer said. "And I think the one very scary thing is, the best is yet to come from him."

The 2019 Tamworth Regional Council sportsperson of the year would "be a force to be reckoned with for years to come", Chaffey said.

In March, McCulloch said: "Looking back at it, it takes my breath away at how much I've [improved] my power, my speed, my fitness - everything is next level."

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