Chris Thomas, pictured after his recent points win over Josue Bendana at the Harrow Leisure Centre, continues to study and learn his ringcraft in the pro ranks [@shotbyquill]

WELTERWEIGHT Chris Thomas says he’s not the kind of boxer who “wants to play with his food”, insisting that his main focus is to get opponents out of the ring “as soon as possible”.

But the 26-year-old made it clear that there’s no room for recklessness as he continues to study and learn his ringcraft in the professional ranks.

Thomas, who lives in Kentish Town, is adamant that “the stoppages will come”. For now, though, the former St Pancras Boxing Club amateur is more than happy being the man with a plan.

Speaking following his recent points win over Josue Bendana at the Harrow Leisure Centre, Thomas said: “I felt like I was stringing my combinations together really well, and I wasn’t rushing my shots. I had a good defence, good head movement and I had plenty of energy.

“And I didn’t get hurt, which is always the most important thing.

“You see some fighters becoming obsessed with trying to land a knockout. It’s easy to get carried away and start throwing big, reckless shots. But I stayed focused, stuck to the gameplan and earned the victory.”

Offering up praise for his opponent, Thomas added: “I think Bendana has had close to 60 fights and is very experienced.

“I hit him with some good shots, and did some damage, but he’s a tough, tough guy and was still there standing at the end.

“It’s important that when I hurt an opponent I keep putting the pressure on and get them out of there. I don’t want to be one of those boxers who plays with their food. I want to stay focused and get the job done.

“For now, it’s about continuing to work hard, learning the ringcraft and being ready to showcase my skills whenever I get the opportunity. The stoppages will come.”

Thomas has now won two out of two in the pro ranks, with both bouts being fought over four rounds.

He’s hoping to squeeze in a third fight this year, before returning to the ring in 2027 when he will gradually start to ramp up the rounds.

A product of St Pancras ABC in Kentish Town, Thomas enjoyed a stellar amateur career, winning the England Boxing Southern Area Elite title, the MTK Global Lonsdale Box Cup and the London Elite Championships.

Guiding him every step of the way has been trainer CJ Hussein. The Saints head coach says that one of Thomas’s biggest strengths is his desire to put in the work and not cut corners.

He said: “Too many young boxers who turn professional today want to focus on looking good and getting knockouts. And I understand that, there’s a lot of pressure to get noticed as quickly as possible.

“But it’s about putting in the rounds, and learning the ringcraft. It’s a tough career, and you’ve got to build the right foundations from the very start.

“You can’t go into a four-rounder and just expect to knock someone out. You end up just throwing big messy punches. And what happens when that doesn’t work? They get found out.”

Assessing the display that Thomas put in against Bendana, CJ continued: “He boxed brilliantly, it was a big improvement on his first fight. He took his time, showed great fitness, had a solid jab and was very professional.

“He broke the kid down, and gave him a nosebleed. I think that if the fight had been over eight rounds Chris probably would have stopped him.”