It was billed as a ‘Title Eliminator’ and in the end Lucas Bahdi had to earn it, but he emerged victorious in the toughest test of his professional career, defeating former World Champion Roger Gutierrez by a unanimous 12-round decision in a WBA lightweight bout from Orlando, Florida.
The three judges scored the fight 117-110, 116-111 and 15-112.
The biggest moment of the fight came at the very end of the sixth round when the Niagara Falls native, (now 20-0 with 15 knockouts) dropped Gutierrez with a counter straight right hand. Gutierrez (29-7-1, 22 KOs) was badly hurt, but the bell saved the former junior lightweight champion from Venezuela.
“I started off very strong the first few rounds”,” said Bahdi when he joined the Niagara Sports Report on 610 CKTB over the weekend.
“I think he started to turn it up a little bit in the fourth, he was jabbing very well.
This guy is a vet (boxing veteran) he’s been in the ring some of the best, he was a world champion. This was (fight) his climb back up to world title contender status.
I caught him with a beautiful shot at the end of the sixth round, he was very, very, wobbly, but he was saved by the bell.
I think if there was more time I would have closed the show in six (rounds) I would have closed the show right there.
It turned out to be a great fight, great experience, I did 12 rounds for the first time in my career.”
Bahdi, who signed with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and influencer and actor turned pro boxer Jake Paul back in November of last year, had Paul at ringside with him for the first time.
“During the fight I could actually hear him calling out shots, it was pretty funny.
He was very happy with the outcome and my performance. He’s a great guy to have in your corner. He’s such a big influence for so many generations. I’m blessed to have him around me.”
Ultimately, Bahdi’s power shots were enough to land him the best win of his career and put him on the doorstep of a world title shot.
“I’m the No. 1 contender now. I’m next in line for the World title,” Bahdi explained.
Here’s where things get interesting.
WBA title holder Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is scheduled to fight Bahdi’s promoter – the aforementioned Jake Paul – in an exhibition in mid-November.
“I don’t know if Gervonta is going to vacate the title, if this is his last fight and he’s going to retire after Jake, I don’t really know and a lot is up in the air right now.
But as far as I’m concerned my next fight should be a world title fight.
This is my time, this is everything I’ve worked for, everything I’ve trained for over the last 17 years.”
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
