Talia gets her title shot

Talia Iris will have to give up her traditional Good Friday fishcakes until Sunday.

All eyes will be on Iris when she takes on Canadian Ashley Nichols for the Women’s World Muay Thai Federation Continental title on Saturday night at the Berkeley Institute gym.

“I’ve done fairly well in my previous fights.”

“Two years ago in Texas I came in first and got a knockout. That was pretty exciting for me.”

Iris knows her opponent has more experience than her but she’s going into the bout with a “positive attitude”.

“I’ve been putting in time and energy during training and am looking to transfer that into the ring.”

Why Iris may not be the most experienced Muay Thai fighter, she has fought for world titles before.

“I’ve won world titles before in Karate” in forms weapons and sparring.

She said fighting on the world stage is “like second nature”.

Iris said she became interested in martial arts by watching kung fu movies when she was a youngster.

“One year I went on a family trip with my auntie and my grandmother and came across a martial arts school. I told my grandmother I want to do martial arts.”

After returning to Bermuda she spoke to her parents about and they agreed to let her try it.

“They took me to Skipper Ingham’s school and my dad and I sat in on a class and I knew that’s wanted I wanted to do. I’ve just stuck with since.”

She transitioned to Muay Thai through the Bermuda Sanshoiu Association.

“Garon Wilkinson’s always been a good friends. He reached out to me and asked me if I was interested.”

She said in taking on Nichols she’ll have to “change up her fighting style” from sanshou to Muay Thai, but is ready for the challenge.

“I’ve kicked up my cardio and my training and I won’t be partaking in my usual Good Friday activities.”

“On Good Friday I’ll be just resting up so there will be no fishcakes. After the fight I can have all the fishcakes I want.”