“I was excited; I couldn’t sleep for three days,” said Roevan de Beer about his first professional fight during the EFC 47 event at Carnival City recently.
Roevan was matched up against JP Buys and, although the two have some history during their time as amateurs, Roevan approached this fight like any other. In the end, the fight didn’t go his way and he lost via rear naked choke in the first round.
Although Roevan took the fight at short notice, he has no regrets.
“I’m not the kind of fighter who is worried about a padded record. That’s why I take fights at such short notice, one of my favourite fighters always says that records are for DJs,” he said.
According to him, things could have been different if he had had time for a full fight camp.
But, true to his character, he makes no excuses.
“I should be looking at being a full-time fighter. Some of the fighters from Fight Fit Militia are putting in 60 hours of training a week,” he said.
For De Beer to become a full-time fighter, he would need sponsorships. Being an athlete can be an expensive business, especially for combat sports athletes who must be in peak physical condition at all times.
This boils down to supplements, diet and enough time to train.
De Beer had to cut down to flyweight for this fight, although he competed at bantamweight throughout his amateur career.
“The cut down to flyweight wasn’t too bad but I would have to wait and see if this is the weight class for me,” he said.
The flyweight division may be a smaller division than the bantamweight but it is no less competitive. With the likes of Nkazimulo Zulu, Craig Ninow, Charlie Weyers and Francois Groenewald, all former champions and contenders, competing at this weight it is no walk in the park.
“I really enjoyed the fight but, now that I know how everything ties together, I’ll be a different fighter for the next one.
To be on the same card as some of the most famous fighters in the country was amazing.
The event is so professional and well run. I would really encourage anyone to go and watch EFC live if they can. I really am blessed and thankful to be able to compete at this level,” he said.
