By Kyle Kinder-
Over the last decade-plus, Hawaii has quietly emerged as a breeding ground for world class fighters. Amongst them include an elite few who have fought their way to stardom, headlining Pay-Per-Views and capturing world titles in the process.
Of course, those fighters compete inside a caged octagon, not a boxing ring.
Save for Brian Viloria, the state’s lone male boxing champion this century; Hawaii hasn’t produced many buzz-worthy pugilists of late.
Enter Waianae’s Asa “Ace” Stevens.
A former 2019 National Golden Gloves Champion and 2018 World Youth Boxing Champion, Stevens shed his amateur status in November 2019, but has yet to make his pro debut. He’ll finally get his chance Saturday January 2 on DAZN.
“I’m super excited…my first pro fight on a big stage, fighting on the undercard of Ryan Garcia. I’m excited and anxious for a fight already to get it going,” Stevens said.
In February, Stevens, who is managed by Split-T Management under the guidance of Tim VanNewhouse, inked a promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions. He thought he would turn pro the following month.
“We were going to fight in March and then the whole COVID thing came. Then we were told we were going to fight in July and then July came and COVID was just getting worse,” Stevens recalled. “Then we thought maybe we’ll get a fight in October and then on December 5 we were supposed to fight, but the main event…Luke [Campbell] got COVID, so they pushed it back another month. It’s kind of frustrating, but we’ve been working hard this whole time.”
Though disappointing, the constant postponements never derailed Stevens’ determination. Day after day, the 20 year-old southpaw headed to the Nito Boxing Academy in Waianae — a less glamorous part of O’ahu on the island’s western shore — where he and trainer Carlos “Nito” Tangaro worked to sharpen his skills and stay in fighting shape.
“I’m more of a counter-puncher, a boxer,” Stevens said about his style. “I like to figure out what my opponent is doing, I like to use the jab a lot, I’m very defensive, but I can work on the inside if I want and throw hard shots…and work on different angles.”
As an amateur, Stevens racked up gold medals and tournament trophies at various weights 125lbs and below. On Saturday, he’ll debut at 118lbs (bantamweight), what he calls “a comfortable” weight.
And while carrying 118lbs within his 5’5” frame may feel comfortable — fair or unfair — he’s also aware he carries the hopes of Waianae on his shoulders. After winning Gold at the 2018 World Youth Boxing Championships in Budapest, the young Hawaiian was catapulted to local celebrity status. Upon his return to US soil from Hungary, Waianae gave him a hero’s welcome, complete with a victory parade. Since then, Hawaiian cable news channels and other media outlets have kept tabs on Stevens’ every move — covering his 2019 National Golden Gloves title, his shocking withdrawal from the US Olympic trials, as well as his signing with Golden Boy and all updates about his ever-elusive pro debut.
“It’s kind of motivating knowing that there’s a lot of support and a lot of people out there looking at me,” Stevens said of his community. “But it’s kind of like a little pressure because there’s a lot of high expectations out of me,” he admitted.
Being asked to operate under the brightest of lights is nothing new for Stevens, however.
“You can say I thrive under pressure situations,” he remarked. “I’ve had to travel all throughout the country, I’ve had to go into uncomfortable situations, and I’ve always come out on top.”
And winning is something that just might be in his blood. Stevens’ cousin is Max Holloway, the MMA superstar and former UFC Featherweight Champion.
“I admire his hard work, the work he puts in the gym, the way he cuts off distractions,” Stevens said of his cousin. “He’s always in shape. I can learn a lot from him and his hard work and consistency.”
There was a brief moment when Stevens considered following in his cousin’s footsteps, opting for the MMA route like many other young fighters from the Aloha State. “I actually had a couple kickboxing fights when I was 13 or 14 years old,” recalled Stevens.
But it was in the summer of 2015 that boxing officially hooked Stevens. “There’s not too many boxing tournaments around here, so we had to travel all over…to Kansas City…to Las Vegas,” he said. “And it was in 2015 when I really got attached to boxing because I traveled all over. We went to three tournaments and I won all three. So I was like damn…this is for me.”
With such a storied amateur career in his rearview, it’s safe to conclude that Stevens has the potential to reach any goal he sets his sights on as a pro. “I want to become a world champion in multiple different weight classes,” declared Stevens. “And I want to financially help my family and take care of the people around me.”
As a means to reaching his goals, he’ll look to punish those placed before him, starting with Mexican Francisco Bonilla (6-8-3, 3KO) on January 2.
“You should expect a great performance by me, a great show,” Stevens said.
In all, more than thirteen months will have passed from the time Stevens announced he was turning pro to the time he’ll hear the opening bell on Saturday in Dallas. He’s had more than enough time to prepare for his first test as a professional boxer. It’s up to him to Ace it.