Thai fighter in box switch
HE is a three-time world champion and one of the most fearsome Muay Thai fighters on the planet.
But “Vicious” Victor Nagbe, a West African refugee who grew up in poverty, has set his sights on dominating another combat sport.
Under the guidance of famed Geelong trainer Tony Salta, 25-year-old Nagbe will set out to achieve the same feats in the boxing ring.
Tomorrow, the Ballaratbased Nagbe will make his boxing debut against Warrnambool’s Jyl “Wild” Wright at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.
The fight will feature on the maiden promotion for world champion Will Tomlinson.
“Victor is a current Muay Thai champion and at one stage he was rated the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter in the world,” Salta declared.
“He has now turned his attention to boxing and he wants to achieve the same feats as he did in Muay Thai.”
Nagbe has had 44 fights for 24 wins across the Muay Thai and kickboxing domains.
And now he is set to take the boxing world by storm, according to Salta.
“He’s made the move because he hit the top of the tree in Muay Thai and he felt there were no other challenges there for him,” he said.
“He beat the best in the world in his class and he got a bit bored of it because the challenges were no longer there.
“He’s got a new challenge now, he’s turned to boxing, and his aim within the next two years is to achieve the same feats he did in Muay Thai.
“Realistically, I think the guy can do it and do it comfortably. He is one of the most accomplished fighters I’ve seen.
“All I’m working on at the moment is putting a little bit of polish on to him with a more side-on stance rather than that front-on Muay Thai stance, but he’s adapted very well.
“He exceptionally skilful and I’ve no doubt he’s more than capable of reaching the heights he wants to reach.”
Nagbe and Wright are no strangers to each other, having had a falling out while at training.
“These two have actually sparred before at my gym and he seems to have upset Joel and they had a bit of an argument,” Salta said.
“So when the fight was put to Joel, he jumped at it because Joel thinks he can knock him over. It will all sort itself out on Saturday night.”
Nagbe will not be the only Salta product fighting this weekend, with talented Geelong boxer Michael Sacco stepping into the ring at Team Ellis Promotions’ Once Upon a Time at Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington.
Sacco will fight Africanborn, Epping-based Korobo Etto for a regional title at light heavyweight.
“Korobo’s a southpaw and we’ve seen a fair bit of him,” Salta said.
“He’s not a huge hitter, but he’s a very neat boxer and uses the ring exceptionally well.
“We tend to think Mick can cut him down with right hands and we believe he’ll do OK.”