Luke ‘Skywalker Whelan
Not many fighters can say they have been a sparring partner of a Hollywood film star. So Luke ‘Skywalker Whelan might be the only one, to say he has!
A few ago, the actor Idris Elba wanted to test himself as a fighter, with a lifelong fascination with the sport of Kickboxing and Muay Thai. Already his mid-40s at the time, he wanted to try and achieve his dream of fighting in an actual competition bout, under pro rules before it was too late.
Also coming from London, England, he chose to train at the Double K Gym. During these preparations – showcased in the documentary series ‘Idris Elba: Fighter’ – Luke Whelan was often his training partner. When not rubbing shoulders with famous, Luke can be at one of his own twice-daily training sessions or coaching fighters at the gym he now owns in south-east London.
Having won titles at the National, European and World stage, Whelan is now part of the MTGP Welterweight division. It’s one of the toughest weight classes in the sport, hugely stacked with World-class competitors. It’s where Whelan now seeks to prove himself the best of the best…