Entering 2024, Paul Bamba had a bold plan: play 15 games in a year.
On Saturday, he will step into the ring for the 14th time, one short of his goal, but surpassing Mike Tyson’s iconic 13-fight win streak set in 1986. Let “Iron Mike” become famous in the heavyweight division.
To be fair, comparing Bamba to Tyson is unfair but deserves credit. Bamba’s relentless schedule harkens back to a time when boxers fought regularly.
This weekend, Bamba is aiming for his biggest win yet, taking on Mexico’s Rogelio “Poch” Medina at the Carteret Performing Arts Center in Carteret, N.J., for the WBA “Gold” title. Weight belt.
Bamba, a 35-year-old Marine turned boxer, followed an unconventional path that included sleeping on a friend’s spare mattress and getting punched in the face for cash Then he learned boxing—literally.
“I had no direction after leaving the Marine Corps,” Bamba said. “I hit rock bottom and couldn’t afford a place to live, and minimum wage wasn’t much at the time. I rented a mattress and it was shoved behind someone’s couch.”
Bamba’s fortunes changed at Morris Park Boxing Gym in the Bronx, where a challenge against an amateur boxer opened his eyes.
“I got knocked out in the first round,” Bamba said. “But I hadn’t eaten in days, so I went to get some food and came back and did another two or three rounds.”
This gritty determination caught the attention of former WBA welterweight champion Aaron “Superman” Davis, who defeated Mark Breland for the belt in 1990. Davis became Bamba’s mentor, teaching him from the basics – for a month, he only used his jab and then moved on to punching with his right hand. . It was boring at first, but since Bamba didn’t have to pay, Davis taught him the right way.
Bamba fought only 3 amateur fights, the same number of losses as he had in his career, before turning pro in early 2021 and starting to shape himself in and out of the ring. A savvy marketer, he became famous as a celebrity coach. Bamba has trained celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and Neo, who now serves as his manager.
Bamba’s record of 18 wins and 3 losses (17 knockouts) speaks volumes about his fighting spirit. His last fight was in November and he is training with Malik Scott and Mustafa Meekins for upcoming fights while being coached by current professional boxer Thomas “Corn” Film”·Ramanna’s promotion.
Bamba’s opponent, 36-year-old Medina, is a grizzled veteran with a record of 42-10 (36 KOs), including a knockout victory over J’Leon Love and fights against elite fighters such as David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. as a highlight. However, Medina spent his prime years at a lower weight and has had various issues in his recent fights, with his last weigh-in at 217 pounds.
A win could lead to a compelling matchup for Bamba, although his wish list may raise some eyebrows.
“If I could do the fights in any order, I think it would be something like this: Jake Paul, finally fighting Tommy Fury, like having a great little exhibition match with KSI,” Bamba said. “From then on, I used those as stepping stones because for them it could be a step up. For me, fighting them wasn’t really a step up. I wanted to focus on real boxing, like I want to make sure I’m learning my trade and practicing my craft properly and possibly chasing a boxer like this [Gilberto] “Zuldo” Ramirez. “
When asked about a potential matchup with Paul, Bamba’s marketing instincts kicked in. #PaulBamba. It’s meant to be. “
