South African boxing’s perennial crowd-pleaser, Roarke Knapp, is stepping into unfamiliar territory, both literally and figuratively, as he prepares for his major bout against Kagiso Bagwasi at Emperors Palace next weekend.
For the past two months, Knapp has been training in England, far from the familiar gyms and sparring partners of Johannesburg.
“It’s something I wanted to do for a while,” Knapp explains, just days away from his participation in the big-money, four-man “Survivor” tournament. “I hadn’t given myself the opportunity to travel and train and see what’s out there, and experience the intensity. I never did a full camp like this before. It was the perfect time and helped open doors, allowing me to network and meet people.”
Based in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Knapp trained at the Western Warriors gym, travelling between Plymouth and Portsmouth for sparring. “I rocked up for a fresh start and was a complete unknown,” he says. “My parents live in the vicinity and I had been to the gym before, so I knew it. I was welcomed nicely. No one knew who I was, which was unusual and welcoming.”
The experience was eye-opening. “We have good fighters in SA, but the depth in England is unreal: many Olympians, Commonwealth champions, guys with 200, 300 fights. It was top-quality sparring that took me out of my comfort zone. Some days I had to cycle 20 minutes in the rain to the train and then go to gym. It reminded me that we’ve got it easy in SA.”
Knapp’s wife and baby joined him for the full eight weeks, making the camp both a family affair and a test of resilience. “It was a time of great learning and growth. Now I must reap the rewards. I could’ve easily stayed in South Africa. I learned a lot, it was a tough camp.”
As for Bagwasi, Knapp is respectful but confident. “I don’t know much about Bagwasi. He is coming off two great stoppage wins. He’s a tricky southpaw. But he’s not the first game guy I’ll have fought. I’m not underestimating him. I plan to win by any means necessary; I just want the ‘W’ on my record.”
And while England offered valuable lessons, Knapp is clear about where his heart lies. “There’s no place like home. England is cool but not my cup of tea.”
Promoter Rodney Berman believes Knapp’s English adventure will pay dividends. “Roarke has always been a fighter who thrives under pressure, but this camp took him out of his comfort zone in the best possible way. He’s mixed with top-quality opposition, sharpened his tools, and matured as a professional. Against Bagwasi, fans will see a Roarke Knapp who is tougher, smarter, and more dangerous than ever.”
With his English adventure behind him and a major fight ahead, Knapp is ready to prove that stepping out of his comfort zone was the perfect preparation for stepping into the ring.
