News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Will Rains shows off his IKF World Champion Belt. (Photo: Will Rains)
Cookeville’s own International Kickboxing Federation Welterweight World Champion Will Rains wants to continue his amateur kickboxing fights to eventually evolve into a Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
“The next step is getting more amateur kickboxing fights under my belt. Hopefully sometime in the near future,” Rains said. “Slowly moving into Muay Thai fights. And then pressing into MMA.”
Rains won the 2018 world champion title last Sunday by defeating two veteran opponents.
Although Rains came out with as the champion, Rains said he didn’t expect to win.
“In my first fight, the other fighter, his record was eight to four. And my record going into this was only one to zero. So he has a lot more experience than me and a lot more conditioning and working out,” Rains said. “My second fight also had a lot more experience than me. His record was six and four. But I went into those fights thinking whether I win or lose I am doing it for the people in Cookeville and I’m doing it for my friends and family that supported me.”
Rains said winning the world champion title felt incredible.
“The best feeling ever. It was better than winning any other tournament, winning any other amateur fight,” Rains said. “It was amazing when they handed me that belt.”
Rains said he started taekwondo with Jack Scott United Karate Studio in September of 2012. Rains completed his black belt in December of 2016.
“It was a slow progression into kickboxing from that taekwondo. But I got picked up by a scout, his name is Ben Kiker and he runs Ben Kiker United Karate Studios in Ellijay and Dalton, Georgia,” Rains said. “And I have been going down to Dalton, Georgia every single Monday for about a year now to train with him and he has been my manager. ”
Rains started kickboxing specifically in November 2017.
Rains currently attends Cookeville High School as a junior. Rains said he wants to go to Tennessee Tech to pursue an engineering degree.
“I just want to say to all the young Cookeville artists that I know, especially going to Cookeville High School to keep going and don’t stop pursuing,” Rains said. “Even if you come from a small town, if you have people backing you up and supporting you, you will make it.”
Despite his goals for the future, fighting is his passion, Rains said.
