Maui’s Nguyen goes for second belt at BKFC 22
Dat Nguyen, a 2001 graduate of Baldwin High School, punches Johnny Bedford in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 135-pound title fight in February. Nguyen takes on 155-pound champion Luis Palomino on Friday at BKFC 22 in Miami. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship photos
Dat Nguyen speaks in the ring after his win over Johnny Bedford in February.
Dat Nguyen, a 2001 graduate of Baldwin High School, punches Johnny Bedford in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 135-pound title fight in February. Nguyen takes on 155-pound champion Luis Palomino on Friday at BKFC 22 in Miami. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship photos
Dat Nguyen speaks in the ring after his win over Johnny Bedford in February.
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At 39 years old, with a 23-3 professional boxing record and a 135-pound title already on his resume, Dat Nguyen is taking a big step up on Friday night in Miami at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 22.
Nguyen, a 2001 Baldwin High School graduate, will face Luis Palomino, 41, for the 155-pound title.
Nguyen is quite direct on why he took the fight against Palomino.
"He likes to bully other people and belittle other people, that's why I chose to fight him," Nguyen said via phone after a workout on Wednesday. "At first I didn't know his real personality, but after I get to find out what kind of person he is. ... You know, once you fight an opponent, you get to see right through him and I just don't like this guy. He's one of the punks that rolls up in the streets and, you know, he bullies everybody."
Nguyen, who beat Johnny Bedford to claim the BKFC 135-pound world title in February, will never forget where he came from.
"I grew up on Maui and you know that's my home away from home, my family still lives there," he said. "So, my whole family is all tuning in and you know, like I said, I left Maui for the opportunity and it is still considered my home. And if I have the opportunity to go back there and live there again in the future, that's what I'm going to do, retire there on my island.
"I love that place and I grew up there with all my friends and all the people there at a young age, so that's considered my home."
For Nguyen (3-0 in BKFC), who now fights out of Florida, Maui will be on his mind in the ring against Palomino (4-0).
"I can't wait to represent Maui because that's my home and there's a lot of kids out there that want to look at the big picture and want to achieve something great," he said. "I had to get out of that island to achieve something great and I want to let those kids know that it's possible."
Nguyen has big goals on his list, on Friday and beyond.
"I'm going to achieve something really great here by winning two divisions world championships and then the ultimate goal is to call out Conor McGregor," Nguyen said. "You know, Conor McGregor is looking to go to bare knuckle. Right now, the UFC is looking to merge with Bare Knuckle FC because they see the growth of it. They are allowing their fighters to come to bare knuckle."
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.