When Marblehead’s Zach Calmus won his professional boxing debut back in November, it was the culmination of years of hard work and determination. But after the fight, he was back in the gym like it never happened.
“I didn’t really get hit in that fight and it didn’t even go one full round, so I was pretty much ready to go the next day,” said Calmus, who graduated from Marblehead High in 2009. “I honestly felt like I could’ve done even better that night, so I just wanted to keep working and get another shot.”
Calmus, a heavyweight who trains at Private Jewels Fitness in Lynn, picked up that win at Granite Chin Promotions’ “Gold Rush” at New England Sports Center in Derry, N.H. He won via technical knockout just 2:48 into the very first round against his opponent Yhago Goncalves. Calmus hurt Goncalves with a short punch and the referee called the fight when he determined Goncalves was unable to continue.
While Calmus has kept many things the same since winning his first pro fight, he’s also changed some things. He’s continuing his workouts, sparring sessions at Private Jewels and his day job of moving large furniture, but he’s also made crucial changes to his diet that have had a profound effect on his well-being.
“I had been having stomach issues for a long time, so we made a total change to my diet and it’s been totally different,” said Calmus, who prior to turning pro had been a top-ranked amateur boxer for much of the past nine years, including being ranked No. 8 in the nation among heavyweights in 2018 after winning the New England Golden Gloves title in 2017. “I’ve lost 15 pounds since the fight and I feel better and stronger than I ever have.”
He’s continued his work with trainer Alex Sepulveda at Private Jewels, a place that Calmus says is second to none in terms of training boxers for a fight.
“The reason why the fighters who come out of Private Jewels are so good is because we focus on the fighter here,” said Calmus. “This is a place to make yourself a better fighter, and Alex does a great job of raising everyone’s level.”
Sepulveda also sets up sparring sessions for Calmus with some of the best heavyweight fighters in the world. Just the other day, Calmus went down to Dorchester to spar with Steve Vukosa — who won the WBC United States heavyweight title back in 2019.
“I’d rather work with a guy who’s going to knock me down because that’s what makes you better,” said Calmus. “Alex sets up these sparring sessions and it’s incredible. Without him, there wouldn’t be a me.”
“Zach’s work ethic is unmatched,” said Sepulveda, who also owns Private Jewels. “The guy just can’t get enough, he always wants to work on his craft and get better.”
In addition to training, he’s continued working with his manager Patty Herlihy, who Calmus calls “a godsend.”
“I’ve known her since I was 17 and she’s the best manager in the game by far,” Calmus said of Herlihy. “She’s helped me with so much over the years and she continues to help me every day.”
All of that work led him to a tryout for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in February, where he was one of 120 applicants selected from a group of 6,000.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set which emphasizes fighter safety. In BKFC, only fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing or Muay Thai are allowed to compete.
Calmus made the trip down to Tampa, Fla. on Feb. 5, where he and 50 other fighters battled through a grueling seven-hour tryout. Out of the 50 fighters that day, only five were selected for an interview. And Calmus was one of them.
“It was a crazy couple of days,” Calmus said. “I had to arrange a flight for me and Patti just 24 hours in advance and get down there quickly, but once I got there I felt totally prepared. To be honest, I look exactly like the BKFC logo so I think I’m the perfect fit for the organization.”
Whether or not he gets a shot with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship remains to be seen, but Calmus isn’t only banking on that. He had a big fight offer in Mexico that he had to turn down due to passport issues, but he’s willing to get in the ring against anyone, anytime.
“In a normal year, I probably would have fought three or four times by now,” said Calmus. “Things have been a little less busy because of COVID, but places are slowly starting to open up and I think the opportunities are going to start flowing in again pretty soon.”