Local accepted to compete at Ellismania 12

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Regardless of the skill of a fighter in the opposite corner, training and stepping into a boxing ring is an intimidating thing to do, but that’s what one local resident is doing and it’s for a good cause. Ben Davenport has been training with Fivestar Mixed Martial Arts for over two weeks with the intent of losing weight as well as learning the basics of boxing as he’ll be competing at Ellismania 12 in Vancouver in May.

Davenport will be lacing up the gloves in the “biggest loser” portion of the event where the goal for both combatants is to lose as much weight as possible leading up to the fight.

Davenport began the endeavour weighing 304 pounds, and the last update on his progress was that he was down 22 pounds in a span of two weeks.

“I always listen to Jason Ellis and Ellismania is going to be in Vancouver,” Davenport said. “I always said I wanted to go to Ellismania. I made a video and sent it in of me punching a garbage bag full of snow and I made it in.”

For those not familiar with the concept, Ellismania features a number of fun exhibition fights as competitors will have head protection on with various stipulations attached to them.

He’s being trained by Fivestar MMA boxing coach Justin Donally. Donally said the training so far has been basic, but that will ramp up as Davenport continues to shed pounds.

“At this point he’s mostly been doing cardio and just trying to get the weight off while doing some basic boxing fundamentals. The hands are starting to get working a little bit and the more weight he loses the faster the hands are going to get,” he said.

Prior to starting to train Davenport said he was taking in roughly 3,500 calories a day. That’s now been cut in half as part of preparing for the fight.

After finding out he had been accepted to take part Davenport was told by Donally’s father, who he used to work for, to head down to Fivestar and inquire about getting the proper training.

It’s not often that Donally gets to work with someone specifically for boxing so when approached he jumped at the opportunity.

“For me personally I train MMA fighters with their stand up and striking all the time but my passion is boxing. I don’t get too many opportunities other than working with my kids and the odd guy that does amateur boxing but I always jump at a situation, especially a fun one like this to actually teach someone how to box,” Donally said.

Regardless of the non-serious nature of the event and the fight itself, the duo will be making the trip to Vancouver with the intent of coming out on top.

“When Ben came to me I told him straight out it’s going to be fun but I don’t train fighters to lose either. We’re not going down there to be made a mockery of. I’m teaching him to box and he’s going to fight. He’s jumping right in with my pro team. We’re not playing around. He’s going to go in there ready to box and be serious about it look to knock this guy out,” he said.

Davenport, who added that he’s looking forward to representing northern B.C. and Fort St. John is hoping to be at 250 pounds by the time of the event.