Bring On All Comers, Matt "The Predator" Vanda
October 12th, 2007
By Tim Hocking

Matt Vanda just wants to fight. He doesn't care who he fights, where he fights, or how much his opponent weighs.

Oh, the rich irony.

It was only three years ago that Vanda earned a split decision win in his home state of Minnesota against Sam Garr that was dubbed by ESPN as one of the worst decisions of the year, and shortly after, named by Ring Magazine as the most protected fighter in the junior middleweight division.

With only a few handfuls of amateur fights before turning pro in 1996 at the age of 17, "The Predator" had to literally learn how to box as a professional. His former promoters, Brunette Boxing in St. Paul and the now defunct Team Freedom from Miami, FL, chose to move him along carefully, building up a record of 34-1, 21 KOs and winning an IBA America's title in his biggest career win against "Yory Boy" Campas in June of 2005.

Vanda was unable to capitalize, however, on a victory in which he looked a legitimate prospect and seemed to vindicate his past transgressions.

"After the Campas fight, Luis DeCubas (Vanda's former manager with Team Freedom) failed to get me a fight for over eleven months and I didn't end up training for almost a year", Vanda told Minnesota Boxing. "So after that, I decided to manage myself. In this sport, you either get worked by promoters or you work 'em back. It was time for me to take matters into my own hands and start making money."

Now, in 2007, the 28 year old Vanda - a natural junior middleweight - has fought five times at middleweight, going 3-2, most notably losing a grudge match against fellow Minnesotan and "Contender" star Anthony Bonsante via unanimous decision, and a majority decision loss in an all out war with local rival Kenny Kost.

Both men were naturally much bigger than Vanda (37-4, 21 KOs). Bonsante (a middleweight) has campaigned as high as light-heavyweight and Kost (a super middleweight) has also campaigned at 175.

After the loss to Bonsante that brought nearly 10,000 fans into the Target Center in Minneapolis, a fight in which Vanda said he over trained for his cross-town rival, Vanda immediately began talk of a rematch as well as a literal boxing tour against Minnesota's best fighters.

"I moved up to 160lbs to fight Bonsante and then stayed up there to fight Kost", Vanda said to Minnesota Boxing recently. "I have nothing but respect for both of those guys. I showed (a lot of courage) to step up to their weight class and fight them at middleweight so now its time for them to step up and fight me again. I'm definitely going back to 154lbs and hopefully get a title shot, but I don't care who I fight, where I fight, or how much they weigh."

Certainly not sounding like a protected fighter looking to build up his record in his own backyard, but rather someone who wants to fight in the biggest and best match-ups Minnesota has to offer.

Neither of Vanda's recent losses, sprinkled around unanimous decision wins against Dillon Carew, Alexis Division and James Crayton has broken Vanda's spirit, but rather ignited the warrior inside the man known also as "Skeletor".

And that is exactly what Vanda is doing - giving Minnesota fans the best possible fights - as he has taken on a challenge other popular Minnesota middleweights seem reluctant to sign up for. After the Minnesota Boxing commission recently disapproved Minnesota's Troy Lowry as an opponent for up and coming Fergus Falls middleweight Andy Kolle (14-1, 11 KOs), Vanda quickly stepped in, setting up his third Minnesota super fight in 2007.

Kolle, just like Bonsante and Kost, will be the much bigger fighter. A 6' 1" southpaw, Kolle has campaigned exclusively at or as much as 5 pounds above the 160lb limit.

Vanda versus Kolle, November 17th at The Myth Nightclub, will be another example of Vanda giving Minnesota boxing fans exactly what they want to see. A refreshing change - as Vanda is eager to make every Minnesota super-fight he can - while plenty of other fighters in and out of the state avoid opponents for a myriad of reasons.

"I'm working now with Ron Lyke and we've already built on a few things", Vanda told Minnesota Boxing. "But I don't care, wherever the money is, that is where "The Predator" will be at. You can't hurt me at 154, you can't hurt me at 160 and I don't care who you are!"

Vanda said he has a lot more to say about this highly anticipated bout with Kolle, but would rather wait until Kolle completes his next bout, in Superior Wisconsin on October 13th against Bradley Thompson (15-11-1, 10 KOs).

"It doesn't really matter to me who I fight", Vanda said. " I just want to fight. If you want to go to war, let's do it! You know where "Skeletor" is, and believe me, I'm coming back straight outta hell!"