Dominic St. Claire-Badillo, residing in Moorhead, MN has been locked in and ready for his long-awaited professional boxing debut—and not even a last-minute opponent change is slowing him down.
Originally scheduled to face Nicholas Olson, Badillo (Hillsboro, ND) will now meet South Dakota’s Austin “Crazy Eyes” Peterson in a four-round bout at 154 pounds as part of IGNITE Fights 108 on Saturday, May 17, at Kent Freeman Arena in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
Peterson, a 37-year-old veteran of the pro MMA circuit, brings a 6-4 record into his first professional boxing appearance. Standing 5’8” and known for his gritty style, “Crazy Eyes” steps in on short notice following Olson’s withdrawal.
Badillo, 5’7½”, is no stranger to big moments. A six-time North Dakota State Champion and 2023 Upper Midwest Golden Gloves winner at 147 pounds, he has spent the lead-up training between Toro’s Boxing in Hillsborough, North Dakota Team Badillo. Known for his ability to blend disciplined technique with explosive power, the 23-year-old is aiming to make a statement in his pro debut.
Despite the opponent switch, Badillo’s mindset hasn’t wavered.
“Leading into fight week, mentality stays the same—go out there and put on a show for the fans,” Badillo said. “With the last-minute change and a new opponent of equal height, I think it will be a great fight! All respect to my opponent for taking the fight last minute—it takes grit and determination for that.
My prediction stays the same: 2nd Round KO.”
IGNITE Fights 108 kicks off at 5:00 p.m. and features a stacked Pro-Am card. Tickets are available at nitrotickets.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.