Malik Scott considers Jordan Panthen one of the best-kept secrets in boxing.
The retired heavyweight watches the junior middleweight grind away every day at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California, where trainer Julian Chua is helping shape Panthen into a top prospect. Scott, who trains former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder, has been particularly impressed by Panthen’s professional approach to his development and his willingness to regularly test himself against top opposition in sparring, most notably WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
“Jordan’s mindset is, in my opinion, what every young fighter’s mindset should be,” Scott told BoxingScene.com. “That’s to seek and destroy, learn as much as you can, don’t have a nightlife and stay focused on the craft. That’s what he does. I’m very impressed with him in and out the ring. The kinda young man he is, I’m very impressed with what I see from him on an everyday basis. He always has questions. He always wants to learn.”
The 27-year-old Panthen’s learning process will continue Thursday night in Costa Mesa, California, where he will encounter Cameron Krael in an eight-round fight at The Hangar. Panthen (5-0, 5 KOs) – who was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and raised in Honolulu – will become the latest on a long list of prospects to face Krael (20-29-3, 7 KOs).
“I look forward to putting on another great show,” Panthen said. “It’s another opportunity. I’m fighting a dude with 53 fights. He’s only been stopped three times, so I plan on eight rounds of action, throwing a lotta punches, fast punches, hard punches, and a lotta them. I plan on getting this guy out of there. It’s not gonna be easy. He’s a tough dude, but I’m looking to bring out the best of my ability and display my skills.”
Panthen’s path to this fight Thursday night has been filled with detours.
He had his first 20 amateur matches from ages 15-18, but the John Wayne fan walked away from boxing and became a cowboy who worked on ranches, participated in bull riding and performed in rodeos during his late teens and early 20s. Panthen attempted to become a Navy SEAL in part because his father was a career Naval officer, but he ultimately decided to move back to Hawaii just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 and resumed his amateur career in 2021.
Panthen won a national Golden Gloves title in the 165-pound division in August 2021 and made his pro debut in August 2022. He has knocked out each of his pro opponents inside of three rounds, including a second-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Shaquille Cameron (7-1, 6 KOs) in his last fight September 19 at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix.
“The more of a killer you are, the more Jordan rises up to the occasion,” Scott said. “Believe me when I tell you, the better his opponents are, the better he’s gonna look. We’ve seen it in his last two fights, which have been his top opponents. They’ve also been his most devastating knockouts.
“People have really gotta be on the lookout for this kid because he’s coming, and he’s coming with bad intentions. … He means business, man, and he’s a threat already. I see him developing into, first, one of the hottest prospects. I see him developing into a real contender and then I see him becoming a champion.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.