Greg Lamothe is relatively new to the sport of boxing, but it doesn鈥檛 mean that he鈥檚 not aiming high.
A kick-boxer for most of his adult life, the now 32-year-old 鈥� who runs the Martial Arts Unlimited gym in Esquimalt 鈥� will take on his second boxing match tonight.
Lamothe will fight a much more seasoned Randy (The Henchman) Hollett of the Sunshine Coast in the five-round main event on the 2016 Silver Gloves Championship card, hosted by the Victoria Boxing Club, at the Victoria Conference Centre. The bouts begin at 7 p.m.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got 24 fights, so he has more boxing fights than I do fights in total,鈥� said Lamothe, who is 1-0 as a boxer and 8-5 as a kick-boxer. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a game guy, a guy that takes fights and doesn鈥檛 pick and choose his opponents. He鈥檚 done well and he鈥檚 fought a bunch of guys throughout the Combsport organization.鈥�
Lamothe is also moving up in weight class from 147 pounds to 154. He was initially slated to fight Josh Wright for a Canadian title, but a broken hand put the kibosh on that matchup.
Making the transition from kick-boxing to boxing proved to be a clean one in Lamothe鈥檚 first match as he stopped his opponent in first round
鈥淭his boxing match I took in August was kind of like this fun test to see if my hands could stand up to what I can do with my hands and feet. I had a really good time in there and did well, so I thought I would try it again,鈥� he said of tonight鈥檚 attempt.
It was supposed to be a title fight at the lesser weight class, but with Wright breaking his hand, it is now an opportunity for Lamothe 鈥� already ranked at 147 鈥� to get ranked at the 154-pounds category so he can challenge at either class.
鈥淚鈥檓 fighting at 154 for two reasons,鈥� said Lamothe. 鈥淚 have a Canadian title fight in kick-boxing in December and I didn鈥檛 want to have to cut down to 147, go back to my normal weight, then cut back again. The other reason is it gets me ranked at 154 so I can challenge for belts.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 after, belts. Despite being new, I feel I can do that. Anyone in those two weight classes, I鈥檓 ready to go with.鈥�
His December kick-boxing bout is expected to be an ISKA sanctioned event that Stan Peterac is promoting in which Lamothe will meet Eddy Chang, who is 9-1.
For now, Hollett has his complete attention.
鈥淚 try to be able to do it all. In these weight classes I tend to be the long, lanky guy,鈥� Lamothe said in describing himself in the ring. 鈥淚鈥檓 known for my cardio and I can fight right to the end. These days I鈥檝e done a good job of finishing fights before the bell so hopefully people are starting to worry about that as well.
鈥淚t seems I鈥檝e been able to find the mark or found some power because four of my last six wins have been finishes before the bell.鈥�
Hollett will be a different challenge, however, bringing much more experience.
鈥淩andy has a big following within the Comsport organization. I鈥檓 the new guy, like the curiosity. 鈥榃ho鈥檚 this kick-boxer who is trying to box?鈥� 鈥� said Lamothe. 鈥淏ut I have a good following within the fight community, the combat sports community that likes to watch me do my thing.鈥�
