Damon Begg has big plans for 2019, and it all starts Friday night.
Vancouver’s Begg (3-4) will battle Vernon’s Kenny Pope (3-5) for the AMA amateur welterweight title Friday night at AMA 33 in Vancouver, B.C.
After having just one fight in 2018, Begg, 26, has big plans mapped out for 2019, which will end in a professional debut, if all goes well.
“All I’m trying to do here is I’m winning this welterweight belt 100 per cent, and then I’ll be stepping back down to 155 pounds, take a title there, and then go into pro,” said Begg in an interview.
“Walking into pro with two titles in two different weight classes is a pretty good game-plan.”
After starting his amateur career with three straight losses, Begg has since won three of his last four fights, all before the final bell.
Begg said each of his first three losses were great learning experiences, which he said his amateur career is for, and were against tough opponents in current BFL bantamweight champion Cole Smith, Mac Laursen, and Omar Stefanini.
“I’m never a guy to turn away fights from anyone. If there’s a fight that’s offered to me, I’ll take it,” said Begg.
“I don’t view it as taking an easy fight or taking a hard fight. A fight is a fight to me.”
But before Begg can look ahead to future fights, he must first deal with Pope.
Begg said he’s expecting an all-around strong test from Pope, and is hoping to give everyone in attendance something to cheer about.
“I just want to put on a show. We’re entertainers; that’s why we’re here is to put on a show for the fans,” said Begg.
“I’m looking to spill some blood in that cage.”
Begg’s Shoutouts
“I’d like to thank my sponsor Himalayan Hydration Drink Co., my coach Kru Williams, my whole team at Stand Up Muay Thai. My father also passed away shortly before my first MMA fight, and I just want to let him know this fight is for him, and I’m going to take this title and go put on where he lays.”
