Filipino-American Nolan Ticman debuted in professional boxing on a bright note by defeating American Keith Carson recently via unanimous decision in a four-round non-title lightweight fight at the Derby Room in Pomona, California.
Ticman, 34, who was a former Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight fighter, conquered 30-year-old Carson (0-6-1 win-loss-draw record) with a flurry of jabs and great counter-punching throughout the entire four rounds en route to a 40-36 score of all the three judges.
“We never doubted him in his debut because we knew from the very start that he’s going to fight,” Greg Asuncion, Ticman’s boxing manager, said. “And yes, he didn’t disappoint the crowd. He also gave the boxing fans a real boxing show despite being an MMA fighter.”
Ticman, whose father is from Laloma, Quezon City and mother from Tanza Cavite, has fought under the Kings MMA during his time in the UFC from 2009 to 2015 before appearing in some MMA bouts. He is presently residing at Palm Springs, California.
Asuncion believes Ticman, under the tutelage of trainer Rodel Mayol, could still become a world title contender and possibly win his first world championship belt two years from now.
“He needs more fights, more wins to be in that level. I believe he is capable of doing so. Although his background is on the other fight sport — mixed martial arts, I believe he can be a successful boxer as well,” Asuncion added. “He’ll be a future boxing world titleholder soon despite being at his 30s.”
The Ticman-Carson bout was one of the undercards of the main event bout between American Angel Moreno Rodriguez and fellow Gabriel Gutierrez in a non-title super lightweight bout.