Professional boxer, Grand Rapids native readies to fight in Detroit

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Growing up in Grand Rapids, Joshua Pagan watched Floyd Mayweather fight, but his dad’s love for the sport is what really inspired him.

Now, he’s taking them both through the ranks in his professional career.

“Knowing that I’m just starting off and I have a long ways to go, that’s what really keeps me motivated,” Pagan said.

He is getting ready for an undercard fight at Little Caesar’s Arena on July 27. He’s 10-0 as a professional and still working to become boxing’s next big name.

“I know it’s a lot of work to live up to those names like Mayweather, James Toney, a lot of those great fighters,” he said. “But I’m more than willing to go the extra mile just to get up there or surpass them.”

Or the extra 1,200 miles. Pagan regularly goes to Florida to train. There’s only one thing Michigan can’t prepare him for.

“What’s different is the heat,” Pagan said. “Sparring over there in Florida, sparring eight rounds over there is like fighting 15-20 rounds because it’s so hot.”

However, his next fight is only 150 miles from home. Pagan likes fighting in Little Caesar’s Arena. He’s fought there once before and knocked out Ronnell “Punisher” Burnett. Now, Pagan has what he says will be the best fight to date — taking on Jose Angulo.

“I know he’s a tough opponent,” Pagan said. “Very skillful. … A lot of it is a mental game, too. So you have to go in there knowing that you did the work and knowing that you know what your opponent’s going to try to do and being ready for that.”

Every fight is the culmination of years of hard work and training.

“Sometimes it’s three workouts a day,” Pagan said. “Missing birthdays, holidays sometimes. Just sacrifices and just putting in the work, day in and day out.”

On every trip and every workout, even the third one of the day, his dad Victor is there, lacing up Joshua Pagan’s gloves, giving him water and throwing in tips.

“It’s fun,” Victor Pagan said. “It’s hard sometimes because you’re away from everybody and everything you know, but at the same time, it’s to get him to the next level and we’re all in for that.”

Joshua Pagan never wanted to switch trainers as he got older.

“Through all the up and downs, we had long rides home after the losses,” Joshua Pagan said. “He keeps me grounded and he keeps me working hard.”

Victor was Joshua Pagan’s first idol in the sport, but they quickly found out who would have the better career.

“Oh, definitely [Joshua is a better boxer],” Victor Pagan said. “It got to the point where I didn’t have to tell him to run or tell him that he had to train. He was already ready for it, so I knew he was different.”

At Little Caesar’s Arena, Joshua Pagan will have a lot more people than his dad there supporting him. “It’s great seeing all my family and a lot of people close to me showing up to the fights, supporting me or watching me on TV,” Joshua Pagan said. “It’s very motivating and it gets me really excited to go in there and perform.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.