Kurt Scoby’s belief in his boxing ability led the former college football standout to take an $11 flight from Los Angeles to New York in search of a new trainer and gym during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In hindsight, Scoby recognizes the ridiculous risks he took, particularly since boxers weren’t even allowed to train indoors due to government restrictions at that time.
“It was crazy doing what I did,” Scoby recalled, “buying an $11 airplane ticket and coming out to New York with nothing but my two fists. I literally didn’t have anything else.”
On Friday night, Scoby has an opportunity to prove he is a legitimate junior welterweight prospect. The Duarte, California native is 10-0, including eight knockouts, but mostly against opponents with poor records since he made his pro debut in September 2020.
The 27-year-old Scoby’s bout against Australia’s John Mannu (7-0-1, 4 KOs) isn’t just a step up in class for the former running back. It’ll also afford Scoby the most exposure he has received because Showtime will air their eight-rounder as the opener of a “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecast from Stormont Vail Event Center in Topeka, Kansas (9 p.m. ET).
“My style is to not get paid for overtime,” said Scoby, who trains at the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. “But my trainer tells me to not go in there looking for the knockout. He says we go in there to beat the other guy up. So, we’ll see how long he lasts.”
Mannu, a 26-year-old southpaw, upset undefeated Adrian Sosa (12-1, 9 KOs) by majority decision in his last fight, a six-rounder on the Devin Haney-George Kambosos Jr. undercard October 16 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
“I know my opponent is basically your typical southpaw,” Scoby said. “He’s undefeated, so he doesn’t know how to lose yet. He’ll soon find out how.”
Scoby, whose mother died during his sophomore year of high school, bounced between 14 foster homes as a kid. He played football at multiple high schools before he earned a scholarship to Fresno State University.
He transferred to Division II Asuza Pacific University following a freshman season in which he was redshirted and ran for 2,703 yards and 16 touchdowns from 2015-17. Scoby’s playing weight was 215 pounds, 75 more than what he officially weighed Thursday for this fight (139.8 pounds).
Scoby admits he used football to get an education. He always knew, though, that after participating in approximately 150 amateur fights that he would eventually come back to boxing.
“I wasn’t in love with football,” Scoby said. “Now, I’m doing what I truly love.”
Following the Scoby-Mannu match, Showtime will televise two 10-rounders.
Misael Lopez (14-1, 5 KOs, 1 NC), a Mexican-born featherweight from Denver, and Edward Vazquez (13-1, 3 KOs, 1 NC), of Fort Worth, Texas, are set to meet in the co-feature. Ardreal Holmes (12-0, 5 KOs), a southpaw from Flint, Michigan, is scheduled to battle Ismael Villarreal (12-0, 8 KOs), of the Bronx, New York, in the 154-pound main event.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.