Ture Asaboro is days away from defending his Almighty Fighting Championship strap this Saturday in the Barnsley Metrodome.
All eyes will be locked on Almighty FC 30 this Saturday when two heavyweight giants collide for gold. Asaboro will put the belt he attained in his most recent outing with Josh Carrick on the line. His opponent, Higher Level MMA fighter Giovanni Olakunori.
Before the pair meet this weekend, we caught up with the heavyweight champion Ture Asaboro. Hear what he had to say below.
Interview With Ture Asaboro
Ture, the last time we saw you in action, you collected the Almighty FC amateur heavyweight title. Just talk to me about what that meant to you to get your hand on gold at the start of the year.
It meant a lot to me. I put a lot of work into this and trained with a lot of amazing people. Winning the title validated the effort, time and faith they put into me.
It was a split decision on the judges’ scorecards against Josh Carrick earlier in the year. However, the result went in your favour. What did you make of the fight and your overall performance?
I thought it was a fight of two halves. Josh was incredibly tough and was fast, and strong. Josh won rounds 2 and 3 and was close to finishing me (he probably would have if he had more time in the second or third round). In the 4th and the 5th round, I won convincingly. After him beating me awake lol. The first round was a tossup and could have gone either way. So, I wasn’t surprised at the split.
I was disappointed with my initial performance, and I know I could have done better and started faster. However, I was pleased with my mentality towards getting battered and just not quitting.
Ture Asaboro on Career Thus Far
You now sit at (3-0) in your career with one first-round finish and two split decisions. Is racking up these wins a testament to the work you and your team are putting in?
Yes, it is. I train at ALOT of gyms. I try to always try and go to places where I know I will be bottom of the pecking order, as I know that’s how I get better. From the faith coaches at AVT put into me, like Jason Furness and Ash Roden, to the advice Owen Livesey at Carlson Gracie Hull gives to me. I feel they all put their faith in me, and in part, I want to represent them the best I can. I believe I am surrounded by some of the best fighters in the country. And as the old saying states, steel sharpens steel.
You recently put a post up about your partner putting up with you to “chase your dream”. Tell the readers, in Ture Asaboro’s head, what are those dreams?
As everyone knows, I am no spring chicken. Injuries earlier in my life made this chase start a lot later than I would have hoped. When I decided to start competing in MMA just under a year ago, I thought, “Let’s see what happens. If I fail, then at least I tried.”
Luckily for me, I have been successful so far. And captured an amateur title. To be fair, if it wasn’t for the support of my wife, I wouldn’t be able to live my dream.
Asaboro on Giovanni Olakunori
Next Saturday, you meet Giovanni Olakunori in the Barnsley Metrodome. What do you know about your opponent and the well-respected he comes from?
Yeah, he seems like a big, strong, fast guy. I know he comes from a very respected gym with a lot of killers in it. He is also a fellow Nigerian, and we are always prepared for war. From what I have seen, he was/is very successful in the grappling world with multiple IBJFF medals and titles, with, I think, a record of 64-1 or something at white belt. This shows me he is used to dominating people. So, I need to make sure I’m on my game.
Giovanni’s only stepped inside the cage once at the Four Nations, and it was declared a no-contest. How much do you feel experience and cage time is going to play a factor on fight night?
Experience helps, but at the end of the day, it’s MMA. Anything can happen. There is a reason Ray and the team gave him a title shot, so I’m not underestimating him in the slightest. He is a beast of a human, so I know he’s coming to take my head off. Let’s hope I remember to block and move.
Winning The Belt
When you won the belt, many didn’t expect the bout to leave the first round. However, in your post-fight interview, you mentioned the rounds upon rounds you put yourself through in preparation. Now being the champion, has the intensity of the training been upped in order to ensure you keep hold of the title?
To be honest, yes, the intensity has increased. It’s harder to stay on top than it is to get to the top, in my opinion. And A LOT of great fighters who are part of the team have helped me massively. I don’t want to give up this belt, so I try to do as much as possible to ensure I don’t.
Everyone loves to see two heavyweights throwing leather inside the cage, but for those who are apprehensive about tuning in or buying a ticket. Tell them why they should and what they can expect to see from Ture Asaboro vs. Giovanni Olakunori.
There are going to be two 120KG+ trained fighters locked in a cage. It could last 20 seconds. It could last 15 minutes. That’s the beauty of combat. Anything can happen. That’s why we love it.
Featured image credits to DN4 Photography
