Local fighter Beamon to make pro debut in Goldsboro on Saturday

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 7, 2015 1:48 PM

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Dewayne Beamon changed his plans.

The local boxer, who climbed through the amateur ranks at an accelerated pace, planned to compete in the Pan American Games and attend tryouts for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

He changed his mind.

And threw a right-handed hook.

Coming off a runner-up finish in the Golden Gloves competition in Las Vegas, Beamon announced his decision to turn pro.

"I went to Vegas -- everybody knows what I did in Vegas," he said. "I won, and made my way up to the finals and then I lost. But I didn't lose. I beat that guy -- I think the boxing term is 'getting robbed.'

"I didn't dwell on it. I felt like it was an opening for bigger and better things. I really felt like it was time for me to go pro."

Good-bye amateur competition.

Beamon underwent an immense amount of paperwork and physical tests. The only difference was bloodwork, which is not required in amateur boxing.

Since his departure from the amateur ranks, Beamon has continued his workout regimen that includes training at the Goldsboro Family Y in the morning and a trip to Raleigh for another intense workout.

It's all preparation for Saturday -- his first-ever professional bout against Jesus Gonzalez at Goldsboro Elite Athletic Center on Highway 70 toward Rosewood. The official weigh-in is 7 p.m. today at Berkeley Mall.

Six fights are on the undercard before Beamon makes his debut.

Gonzalez has 15 professional bouts under his belt and is a left-hander, which provides a unique set of difficulties for a right-hander like Beamon. Still, Beamon plans to embrace the challenge.

"Most right handers don't like fighting southpaws," Beamon said. "Our feet touch each other a lot -- you can often step on each others toes. A lot of head butts can happen because of the way they move.

"One of the best punches you can throw against a southpaw is the lead right hand. I love that punch, and that's my favorite punch to throw. I love throwing the right hand down the pipe and crushing their nose."

Trainer Javord Jenkins has a plan in place.

"His opponent does not like to be crisp," he said. " When he comes forward a great deal and comes forward continually he does not retaliate going back. We plan on coming forward and being aggressive and executing our fight plan as we see needed."

Beamon anticipates some nervousness before he steps into the ring. However, he takes pride knowing that he's fighting for North Carolina.

"I feel like North Carolina is mine," he said. "I feel like I'm the best boxer in North Carolina."