Kickboxer wants to put Nelson on UFC map

Colombian courier driver Miguel Nunez is driven to succeed on the international kickboxing stage.

The 22-year-old is certainly on the fast track, after only taking up martial arts two years ago.

After arriving at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in South Auckland five years ago, Miguel relocated to Nelson.

Rather than play football he tried boxing, but found it boring because he wasn’t allowed to spar.

It was a very different story when he turned up at Sallie McArdle’s SMA gym in Nelson.

“I got to spar on the first day, and I thought, I like this,” enthuses Miguel.
“He just rocked up and you could see straight away, he was a natural. He is very driven, studies other fights and fighters,” says Sallie.

Starting out in light kick and kick contact, he has already fought at the 2023 World Amateur Championships in Greece and Portugal last year, as well as the 2024 Hungarian leg of the World Cup.

Now he has graduated to the K-1 ranks, where you can use your knees, and is 3-0 after winning a GAMMA title in Auckland last month on a bill aptly named “Born to Fight”.

“I wasn’t expected to win but won all three rounds. Yet it was declared a split decision,” says Miguel.

Mind you, his opponent Ahmed Khawaja was from the Auckland gym that promoted the fight night, so he was happy to secure the victory on the road and remain unbeaten.

Now he is back on the roads where he works for NZ Post in Motueka.
“The early starts suit because I can train afterwards, six days a week,” says the poster boy, who is returning to Auckland in August to defend his title.

He also has a shot at another title in Sydney later this year, while cage fighting beckons too.

The big goal is to turn professional and try and break into UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship which commands a huge global following.

“I want to compete in the featherweight ranks,” insists Miguel, who has been invited to the New Zealand amateur team trials.

“I still have plenty of things to improve on. I don’t want to have a specific style in the ring. I want to be flexible.”

It can be a brutal sport, but his only real injury concern has been a swollen foot before one of his fights.

“But I didn’t feel anything once I was in the ring.” Of course, like so many elite Nelson athletes, the cost of travel can be a major obstacle.

It is frustrating, as his success is leading to lots of other opportunities offshore.
“Sallie has helped me out and I have just finished paying her back for the European trip last year,” confirms Miguel.

He also loves to play the drums and knows it is time to drum up more financial backing if he’s to achieve his UFC dream.