Featherweight Troy Nash Jnr is making a name for himself in the WBC Grand Prix featherweight tournament, as his team bet on themselves to get to this point.
Nash won a six-round unanimous decision over Zholdas Zhengissov on June 21 at the Cool Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nash, 5-0 (1 KO), has gone from an outstanding amateur fighter with 15 national titles to a breakout sensation, beating undefeated fighters in the first and second rounds. If the 19-year-old Nash, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, can run the gauntlet and win the tournament, not only would he be a front-runner for the prospect of the year, but he also would have a high world ranking at the end of the tournament.
Nash Snr recalled the decision to enter, with many believing that they had so much to lose.
“We had to grab ourselves by our own nuts and prove we are the best,” Nash Snr said. “I know what my son is capable of, and as a fighter with five fights.”
Nash Snr compared the tournament to that of the video “Mortal Kombat.” In the movie, the most feared fighters entered a tournament for a chance at glory. His son entered the tournament at 3-0 (1 KO). He also entered as an alternate. Now, he is considered one of the favorites to win the whole thing. Nash Snr remembers who believed in the team at first.
“Now, I am getting offers we didn’t have when we turned pro,” Nash Snr said. “It is nice that they now see the potential, but I can’t lie, I was hurt at first. You had to see us demonstrate what we were capable of before we could receive offers. You couldn’t look at his resume and skill set?”
The team is steadfast that, despite the highs and lows of the fight game, winning the tournament will change Nash Jnr’s life.
Next up is Muhamet Qamili, a 16-0 (7 KO) fighter from Rome, Italy. Qamili is a 24-year-old who has also won his first two fights via unanimous decision.
“I have learned a lot from the great coaches we have been lucky enough to be around, like BoMac [Terence Crawford’s head trainer Brian McIntyre] and Al Mitchell, but I’ve also put together a great team and have added a few coaches to work next to me,” Nash Snr said. “My brother completes the team, and we all work great together, beautiful chemistry because they see my vision and believe in it.”
In the tournament so far, Nash Jr has faced Alexander Kovrigin, who was undefeated when they faced him, then Zhengissov, who was also undefeated.
“Not a lot of U.S. fighters were willing to enter this tournament, and we are reaping the rewards from doing so,” Nash Snr said. “It has been a big gamble, because we are facing top fighters early on, but we are proving where we belong. I honestly believe some of the fighters we faced so far are as good as the current world champions.”
