Bahdi improves to 3-0
Lucas Bahdi continues to make short work of his opponents early on his professional boxing career.
The 25-year-old Niagara Falls super lightweight recently ran his record to 3-0 with a first-round knockout of Luis Ernesto Granados (2-8) Aug. 3 in Mexico City.
He stopped Granados 2:40 into the fight.
“He was a durable guy and was supposed to take me a couple of rounds at least, but I started out pushing the pressure on him right away,” said the former national amateur champ. “He usually comes forward, but I had him on the back pedal and put him out of his comfort zone right away.”
Bahdi started attacking Granados’ body, landed a right hand to the head and finished the fight with some body shots as his opponent lunged forward and tried to grab on to him.
“That was the end of it.”
Bahdi has been receiving a warm reception in Mexico.
“They love me over there,” he said. “They were chanting my name while I was fighting.
“I couldn’t believe that I had fans there and I don’t even know how they knew my name.”
Two of his first three fights have been in Mexico and that has been based more on circumstance than design.
“There’s not many shows around in Ontario right now and I am trying to move as fast as I can,” he said. “It is easier to get a fight down there than it is here and I am actually going to go down there at the end of September as well.”
Of his first three fights, Bahdi has two first-round knockouts and one in the second round. It is becoming apparent his style fits in well at the professional level.
“You can’t replace amateur experience and it is like a foundation,” he said. “I have been in there a 100 times and I know what to expect. There isn’t anything I haven’t seen already.”
Bahdi is working hard to quickly built up his resume and record so that he will have the opportunity to fight against top opponents.
“It will probably be next year some time before I am looking for some bigger fights and aiming for some titles, but the next year I am going to be fighting as many times as I can,” he said. “I want to fight every month and have 12 to 15 fights by this time next year.”
Although it’s early, he feels he is making steady progress as a pro.
“It has been great,” he said. “I have been working with a new coach, Steve Bailey, and he has been helping me a lot.”
Next up for Bahdi is a Sept. 7 bout at the Hamilton Convention Centre against Mexican Laramie Carmona. Carmona is a 34-year-old fighter with an 8-8 record and three knockouts.
“He is an experienced guy who is supposed to be durable,” Bahdi said. “Most of the Mexicans are durable and they come to fight.”
Carmona will represent the most experienced opponent Bahdi has fought and he is looking forward to the bout.
“I am super excited and I am training really hard,” he said. “I am fighting at 140 (pounds) at the day of weigh-in and it should be good. I can’t wait.”
