It is often bantered about that currently the MMA and UFC are more exciting to those mainly younger viewers, particularly males, than boxing. That demographic goes more for the bigger attacks and damage done in that arena than the squared circle. The sweet science is sour and boring for many. I recently spoke with young MMA fighter, Cody “Crazy Legs” Huard, and he gave an interesting perspective, one that boxing aficionados might find promising. First, a bit of information on Huard. He has been training for about six years now, since he was 14. As soon as he was old enough, he turned professional. He has a 4-1 record as a pro, and that loss came by decision. On Feb. 17 he has his first pro boxing match. Why? “It’s only going to sharpen my skills as an MMA fighter,” he told me. “There are a lot of guys in MMA that have no real stand up skills at all, like wrestlers. They might street brawl, but there are no skills like boxing. Why not refine myself and make myself a better fighter? I want to become the best I can.”

He did not come in with any boxing background. “When I started I went straight to Muay Thai. But now I’ve been doing boxing, and I love it. Before when I would watch I thought it was boring and there was no real fun to it, but once I got into it I realized how much more fun it really is. Before when I’d watch, you’d either get really good boxing matches or you got a real boring one. That’s why I was iffy about it at first.”

But it’s not completely about fun. “When you know more about it you can really read and watch boxing and really understand what they’re trying to do. I’ve learned a lot.”

His opponent for his first pro boxing match is Abel Ramos. Both young men are 20 years of age, and both from Arizona. These two will go four rounds in the light welterweight division. Ramos has had only one other pro fight, which he won by decision. “I’ve watched a lot of his clips,” Cody said, “so I’ve done my research on him and I really feel like I’m overall the better, more versatile fighter.

“He’s a standard boxer who likes to just come in tight and fight real close, and I’ve always been a guy to keep my distance and really use the reach I have. That’s definitely gonna play a big factor in the fight.”

Huard is understandably excited. “Since this is my first pro boxing match, I feel like I’m fighting for the first time again ever, like it was for my first MMA event.”

We joked that he has to remember to not kick him. “Yeah,” he laughed, “we’ve been having to work on that – not wanting to grab him and take him down, or kick him or anything. It’s a little tough, but a lot of my sparring and training has been boxing so I’m kind of used to trying not to do it.

“I’ve been sparring a lot of pro boxers and Golden Gloves fighters. My boxing trainer, Cesar Peraza, is real strict on trying to get me the best sparring, and the best training I can have to make me a better fighter overall.

“My jiu jitsu coach is Ruben Vargas, and we fight out of the Power Fit Gym. Our fight team is called the 303 Fight Club,” he added.

So while Cody has his eyes set on MMA, right now he wants to take advantage of the time he has to continue his boxing. “I’ve got a lot of time, and want to jump into everything while I’m still young and healthy.”

Boxing has definitely been included and will continue to be. Huard now looks upon it in a different way, the way boxing should be looked at – a sport that is not all action and blood, but rather one to be studied and appreciated.

I wish Cody best of luck in his first pro boxing match and hope to see him in many more.


Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.