Simmons Aims For A Busy Year Of Boxing
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermudian boxer Saundre “Dash” Simmons said he hopes for five or six more fights this year as he looks to build on his promising start in the paid ranks.
Simmons won his second successive bout since turning pro at the weekend, stopping American Jayvone Dafney inside the first round of their cruiserweight contest at the Evergreen Smoky Mountain Lodge in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
He dropped Dafney after 30 seconds with a right hook to the body before finishing his opponent midway through the opening stanza with a crunching left hook to the ribs.
“I knew his body was weak and landed something good up top,” Simmons told Bernews.
“I could hear my corner telling me to be smart, and I saw the liver shot and sat on it. He crumbled.
“People thought he was going to give me more problems than he did. I never doubted myself.”
The 26-year-old is scheduled to return to action on March 2 or 9 in North Carolina against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
“I’m looking for better opponents and better training camps. I want everything better from here on out,” said Simmons, who made his pro debut against Tre Baker in Charlotte, North Carolina, in December last year, stopping the American in the second round.
“As long as I stay away from injury, I want to fight at least every other month. I want seven to eight fights this year.
“I’m enjoying the whole process. My team are taking me slowly, but I’m ready to go.”
Simmons, who trains at Bone Breaker Gym in Morganton, North Carolina, reiterated his desire to fight in Bermuda in the not-too-distant future.
“I had a lot of people in Bermuda tune in [to the live stream] and watch my fight,” he added.
“I appreciate their support and love, and one day I’ll come out and fight in front of them.”
Born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, Simmons was raised by his Bermudian parents in Somerset before moving to Asheville, North Carolina, with his mother when he was 12.
He enjoyed a successful amateur career, placing runner-up at the USA National Boxing Championships in Louisiana and the Golden Gloves of America in Oklahoma in 2021.
