Introducing: William “One Bomb Willy” Goldie-Galloway

Born and raised in the faded northern seaside resort town of Blackpool, William Goldie-Galloway’s pathway into prizefighting was part family tradition and part disciplinary measure.   “Basically I was a little sh-t in school, so my dad sent me down to the Thai boxing gym to sort me out,” laughs William Goldie-Galloway as he recalls his start in the fighting arts.    “I wasn’t a bad kid - I would pick fights with the bullies to protect the kids being bullied - but I was high energy and I had an attitude with the teachers. I was always doing something to get into trouble.”   “He did Thai boxing himself when he was younger so he knew it was good for burning energy and giving discipline and he was right. I started it and I loved it.”   By his late teens, Goldie-Galloway began competing under full contact rules, and he knew instantly it was something he wanted to take as far as he could. Since then, his heavyweight right hand - from which he derives his ‘One-Bomb Willy’ nickname - has carried his career up and up.   “To me there is no feeling like getting in the ring and having a scrap with someone. I just love it. I love winning and i want to get rich doing it,” he says.    “I have been watching GLORY since it started. The fighters here are the top of the game, best in the world, and to go from watching them to now being one of them - the feeling is indescribable.   “It’s a pleasure to be here and everyone around me is very proud of me. Including my mum - she’s proud but can’t watch me fight. She comes to the shows to support me but she runs away out of the hall when I’m in the ring!”   His mother’s eyes may be averted but plenty of others will be on him as he makes his debut this Saturday night against the until-now undefeated ‘Super’ Elvis Gashi (20-0, 10 KO’s) of The Bronx, New York.    “I’ve watched him a few times, I don't understand how he is still undefeated. He has a good left and has some power, but he is pretty sloppy to be honest,” says Goldie-Galloway.    “OK, he beat Josh Jauncey, but was getting outclassed before that. He just caught him with that big left. He’s pretty stuffed full isn’t he? I reckon he is a one-trick pony. I reckon I’ll show him some new ones.”   Goldie-Galloway faces Gashi this Saturday night at GLORY 54 BIRMINGHAM on the SUPERFIGHT SERIES card, which streams live worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS from 7pm UK time / 2pm Eastern Time