Paul Bamba entered 2024 with a bold plan: fight 15 times in one calendar year.
On Saturday, he’ll step into the ring for the 14th time, falling one short of his goal but surpassing Mike Tyson’s iconic 13-fight streak in 1986, which propelled “Iron Mike” into folklore in the midst of his great heavyweight run.
To be fair, comparing Bamba to Tyson is not fair, but credit is due. Bamba’s relentless schedule is a throwback to an era when boxers fought more often.
This weekend, Bamba aims for his biggest win yet, taking on Mexico’s Rogelio “Porky” Medina for the WBA “Gold” cruiserweight belt at the Carteret Performing Arts Center in Carteret, New Jersey.
Bamba, a 35-year-old Marine-turned-boxer, has taken an unconventional road to this point, one that included sleeping on a friend’s spare mattress and learning to box after getting punched in the face for cash – literally.
“I didn’t have any direction after leaving the Marine Corps,” Bamba said. “I hit rock bottom, couldn’t afford a place to stay, and minimum wage back then wasn’t much. I was renting a mattress that was shoved behind someone’s sofa.”
Bamba’s fortunes changed at the Morris Park Boxing Gym in the Bronx, where a challenge to spar with an amateur standout turned into an eye-opener.
“I got my ass handed to me in the first round,” Bamba said. “But I hadn’t eaten in days, so I went, grabbed some food, came back, and did two or three more rounds.”
That gritty determination caught the attention of Aaron “Superman” Davis, the former WBA welterweight titleholder who upset Mark Breland for the belt in 1990. Davis became Bamba’s mentor, starting him with the fundamentals – a month of just jabbing before throwing a single right hand. It was pretty boring at first, but because Bamba didn’t have to pay, Davis was teaching him the right way.
With only three amateur fights – the same number as his professional losses – Bamba turned pro at the start of 2021 and began building himself both in and out of the ring. A savvy marketer, he has made a name as a celebrity trainer. Bamba has trained celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and Ne-Yo, the latter of whom now serves as his manager.
Bamba’s 18-3 (17 KOs) record is something that speaks to his hustle. His last fight was in November, and he is training with Malik Scott and Mustafa Meekins for this upcoming bout while being promoted by current professional boxer Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna.
Bamba’s opponent, Medina, 36, is a grizzled veteran with a 42-10 (36 KOs) record, highlighted by a knockout win over J’Leon Love and battles with elite names like David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. However, Medina’s prime years were spent at lower weights, and his recent outings have been all over the scale, with his last weigh-in coming at a hefty 217 lbs.
For Bamba, a victory could lead to high-profile matchups, though his wishlist might raise some eyebrows.
“If I could have it in any order, and I think it will pan out this way: Jake Paul, finally get my fight with Tommy Fury, and like a nice little exhibition match with KSI,” Bamba said. “From there, I’m using those as stepping stones, because to them, it might be a step up. To me, it’s not really a step up to be fighting them. I want to focus on real boxing, like I want to be making sure I’m learning my trade and practicing my craft appropriately, and potentially going after a fighter like [Gilberto] “Zurdo” Ramirez.”
And when asked about a potential showdown with Paul, Bamba’s marketing instincts kicked in. “What’s the hashtag for that? #PaulBamba. It’s meant to be.”
Read the full article here
