CFL.ca Staff

EDMONTON -- Eskimo defensive lineman Adam Braidwood will step into the boxing ring on January 24 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.  K.O. Boxing Promotions made the announcement on Tuesday that Braidwood will be highlighting the undercard of the “Back to Business” boxing card against Calgary’s Devon Garnan.

“Boxing is something I kind of fell into, but have always wanted to do,” says Braidwood.  “I really wanted to focus on football this off-season. Boxing gives me the opportunity to do all my running and stuff I need to do for football in the morning then I can concentrate on boxing at night.”

A first-round draft pick by Edmonton in 2006, Braidwood has played in 32 games at defensive end for the Eskimos. He missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury. “It’s been healthy.  I practiced the last part of the season and was feeling healthy.  Obviously I had to wear the knee brace, but it is feeling really good.”

“The Boogeyman”, as he is known in fight circles, won his pro mixed martial arts debut with a first-round knockout of challenger Ryan Jimmo on February 3, 2007.

Braidwood isn’t worried about stepping in the ring while he’s under contract with the Eskimos. “I’ve always done this and it just so happens that I now play football.  It actually helps me train for football; I’m doing cardio, working on my foot work.  All these things have helped my knee feel better, they’ve help with my coordination and they keep me moving.  Obviously there is some risk, but boxing isn’t even as close as football is to having high impact on your knee.  You don’t have a Patrick Kabongo falling on your knee in boxing.  If I hurt my knee in boxing it’s because it wasn’t ready and I would have hurt it in football anyways.”