Jordan Panthen's plan for success: less Instagram, more fighting

On Thursday night at the Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, Jordan Panthen makes his third appearance in 2024 when he faces Victor Toney in a scheduled eight-round bout.

That shouldn't raise any eyebrows. Fighters fight, right? Well, not really, and not in 2024. But the 27-year-old is not like other prospects.

“If I fought twice a year, I don't know what I would do,” said Panthen. “I was just working out in the gym and nothing. That's not fun. I remember after my first pro, I didn't fight until nine months later. I was in the gym all the time, and sometimes I was like, 'Why am I training?' So this is very important for me to stay busy. I want to keep winning, I want to keep showing my talent, I want to get my name down people's throats, and the way I do that is by fighting and winning fights the old school way, and I'm going to do that. it.”

If you've been paying attention to the rise of the junior middleweight up-and-comer, you'll notice that he does a lot of things that a fighter under 30 doesn't. He swings hard, hits as hard as he can, and when he's in the ring, it's usually not a boxing match, but a fight. That got him a lot of positive notices from fans and critics, and he does it all without spending a large part of his day on social media.

“There are certain things I cannot do; I'm just not that person,” he said. “I'm not that guy who's going to make BS videos on social media, do other things for fun or ride on his back to get to the top. I won't fool you until I do. I can't do that. I don't have that ability and that ability.”

He laughs.

“Very worrying,” Panthen continued in a social media post. “And it makes me angry. I use social media to post my fights, but I post when necessary. I don't post every week or post silly videos or trendy videos. I tried that once and it turned out to be too strong and made me angry. So it's not a good thing to have.”

Promoters and managers might be disheartened to hear that from a young, marketable boxer, but Panthen is sticking to his guns, knowing that while new forms of communication can help a champion's rise, you still have to fight, and no TikTok dances can help. There.

(Photo by Damian James)

“It's still possible,” he said. “And I am determined to do so because I will not do it any other way. So I will do it this way or I will fail.”

The all-or-nothing attitude is reflected in Panthen's fighting style, which can be captured in black and white with that old-school emphasis. But in his 8-0 (7 knockouts) run, has he been tested?

“I think I've been tested,” he said. “I feel like my fourth fight (with Todd Manuel) was a big test. I was definitely nervous going into it. I knew about him, he was going to upset me, and I showed up and did a good job. I think my sixth fight (with Cameron Krael) was a big test, and it went a long way. I had two badly injured hands in that fight, and every time I hit him it hurt. So, that was a test, we went all eight laps.”

Panthen stopped 44-fight vet Manuel in three rounds and nearly shut Krael out. On Thursday, another test is expected for the 8-2-1 Toney, whose only losses are by decision to current WBC/WBO title holder Sebastian Fundora and undefeated Troy Isley. Add in the recent physical success of Jahyae Brown, and Toney is a live dog, to say the least.

Panthen puts an end to his victory over Hudaynazarov. (Photo by Damien James)

“This fight I found a young man who is fighting and doing things that I have never seen in a fight. I've seen it in the room and sparring, so it's nothing I've never seen before, but not a fight. So I think I'm going to be tested differently and I'm looking forward to that, and I'm looking forward to winning and putting in another outstanding performance. That's what I see. I see another outstanding performance coming, whichever way you look at it. If I'm tested early anyway, I see myself winning and finding a way to show my skills more on June 20.

You get the clear impression that Panthen likes the idea of ​​being pushed to the limit, fighting someone who doesn't fall down when you hit them. That is the fighter inside him. And that fighter isn't letting him sit and smell the roses anytime soon. There is a lot of work to be done.

“I'm very focused on the work I'm doing,” he said. “Even if I win my third or fourth fight, I think I'm burdened. I was telling myself I haven't done shit, I haven't done shit. I'll feel fine for a day or two, and then I'll be like, 'You know what? I have not lost the world title. I never made a million dollars. I have not won many world titles. It's not over yet.' So I keep trying to remind myself that this is not a one-month campaign, a one-fight, one-year campaign. This is a very long, ongoing work. It's a process, and I have to stay committed.”

Thomas Gerbasi at X:

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