Despite a title being on the line, Jordan Noseworthy feels like he has nothing to lose.
Grande Prairie’s Noseworthy (3-2) will take on Calgary’s Eric Stevens (4-2) for the XFFC amateur light heavyweight title at XFFC 22 Saturday night in Grande Prairie, Alta.
An amateur title fight between two of Western Canada's best light heavyweights is the kind of main event the regional scene runs on — XFFC has built its cards around giving the province's best amateurs real championship stakes before they turn professional, and this one has the added intrigue of a fighter getting a second title shot after losing his first.
Going up against one of the top-ranked amateur fighters in the country, Noseworthy, 27, said it feels like a win-win opportunity.
The 'nothing to lose' mindset is the right way to approach a fight like this — a 3-2 fighter getting another title shot against a top-ranked opponent has the freedom to fight loose, and Noseworthy treating the pressure as an opportunity rather than a burden is exactly the kind of attitude that produces performances.
“I really feel like I don’t have much to lose here; it’s a win-win situation for me,” said Noseworthy in an interview.
“I’m moving up in weight, fighting the best guy in the country, so it’s just go-time.”
Noseworthy is coming off a loss to Lorenzo Celis at XFFC 21 with the XFFC amateur middleweight title on the line, which was also his first title fight of his career.
The weight jump makes the rematch interesting — Noseworthy losing at middleweight and getting a light heavyweight title shot immediately after is the kind of second chance that doesn't come around often, and the promotion clearly sees something in him worth another main event.
Noseworthy said he was surprised to receive another title shot so soon after the loss, and is grateful for the opportunity at redemption.
The back-to-back title shot is a testament to how Noseworthy carries himself — fighters who lose championship bouts and immediately get another crack usually earned it through the way they fought or the way they carried the loss, and his gratitude suggests he understands what a rare opportunity this is.
“I was really honoured and humbled by the offer, and I’m going to make the most of this opportunity,” said Noseworthy.
“If I don’t, when’s the next time I’m going to get a title shot? I’m not. You don’t lose back-to-back title fights and even get considered again. This is f**king go-time now. This is the real deal.”
All three of Noseworthy’s wins have come via striking in the first round, which is where he believes he holds the advantage over Stevens.
Noseworthy will also hold a five-inch height advantage over Stevens, as well as a reach advantage, which should present him with plenty of opportunities to showcase his striking.
“I didn’t show it in my last outing, but when it comes to ammy MMA, my striking is pretty good,” said Noseworthy.
“I might not have shown it against my last couple opponents, but I’ve got better hands than these cats and I’ve got better kicks than these guys.”
Stevens As Tough As They Come
So far in his amateur career, Stevens has proven he has the grit and toughness to go the distance, even in the hardest of fights.
And it’s that exact fortitude and perseverance that Stevens, 29, believes gives him the edge over Noseworthy.
“I got heart. I’m sure he does too, but I got heart and dedication. It takes a lot to make me quit,” said Stevens in an interview.
The national championship gold is the credential that makes Stevens the favourite — winning the country's top amateur tournament means he's already proven he can beat the best available competition in Canada, and adding an XFFC belt on Saturday would put him among the most credentialed amateurs on the roster.
“I’m pretty strong too. I lift weights a lot and move concrete all day.”
Stevens is riding a three-fight winning streak into Saturday night, going the distance in all three contests.
The cardio edge is real but contextual — Stevens going three-for-three on decisions shows he can pace a fight, but Noseworthy finishing all three of his wins in the first round suggests the fight might not need to go long enough for conditioning to matter.
With the the potential for this fight to go five rounds and Noseworthy yet to go past the midway point of the second round in his career, Stevens said his experience going the distance could play a factor.
“I got the cardio and I got the conditioning. If it goes to the end, it goes to the end,” said Stevens.
“The cardio and conditioning I do on a daily basis. I know I’m prepared; I’m not sure what he’s doing.”
Stevens’ most recent win was in the gold medal matchup of the 2019 Canadian National Amateur Championships, a unanimous decision win over Will Grieve that saw him become the light heavyweight national champion.
He now has his sights firmly set on his second straight belt on Saturday night, which would push him even closer to his professional debut.
The two-belt run is the kind of amateur career that gets you noticed — a fighter who wins a national title and then a regional championship in back-to-back fights is showing the kind of consistency that professional promotions look for when they're deciding who gets the first call.
“When I win this belt, it’ll just give me more incentive to go pro. It’ll be such a good opportunity when I win that other belt,” said Stevens.
“I’m addicted to this sport, so I might as well start getting paid for it eventually.”
Noseworthy’s Shoutouts
“I want to give a big shoutout to all my teammates and coaches at Stanley Boxing, and my family friends for supporting me through everything.” Follow Noseworthy on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
Stevens’ Shoutouts
“I’d like to thank Russell Peel at Muteki MMA, Brad Cardinal and Justin Basra at Cardinal MMA, and all my training partners.” Follow Stevens on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
