This week, a St. Helens local and St. Helens High School alum will step into the ring to make his professional boxing debut. While for some, the journey to going pro is a lifelong trip, Haidon Allen just started boxing three years ago, but is ready for the next step.
Competing in the Arena Wars Fighting Series, Allen will compete in his first professional fight at Campy Withycombe, located at 15300 SE Industrial Way, Happy Valley, Oregon, on April 20. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 7 p.m.
The Chronicle & Chief interviewed Allen one-on-one to better understand his approach, how he got into boxing, and his mentality as he takes his first shot at the pros.
“Going into the fight, you have to be prepared, but you have to have a good head on your shoulders. You have to stay calm,” Allen said. “Some people fight with anger, with speed, all that. But for me? I like to be like water. Like Bruce Lee. You have to stay calm in a fight, and you gotta flow, because anything can happen.”
Starting out
Allen grew up in St. Helens and competed in baseball, wrestling, and football as a three-sport athlete at St. Helens High School. While he always loved athletics, he realized he liked individual sports best. Allen likes chess, and he said competing in wrestling and boxing makes him feel like the “king of the board.”
Allen wrestled in college at the University of St. Mary and Oregon State University before transitioning to boxing in 2021.
“I fell in love with it,” Allen said. I’ve only been at it for three years, but I’ve done a lot in those three years.”
Allen said that boxing was easy for him to get into because it involved both physical and mental competition. While Allen said the training for wrestling and boxing was similar, boxing brought a “different aspect.”
“It made me use my brain a lot more. Boxing is like a fast-paced bullet chess game. You really have to think on the fly; you have to utilize all your reactions and all your abilities,” Allen said. “I feel like it really brought the best out of me.”
The sport required Allen to use his movement, his reaction, and his brain. After starting, Allen caught the bug and said he became “addicted to learning.” Allen trained by himself for a whole year. One of his inspirations was actually an anime show called “Hajime no Ippo,” which is a boxing-themed manga series. The show’s influence can still be seen on Allen’s social media; he refers to himself as Haidon “Ippo” Allen in some promotional posts.
Allen started with kickboxing, going 2-0 with two KOs. Allen competed in some informal fighting events before deciding to see how far he could take his new passion.
Allen began seeking USA Boxing gyms to start training. He began training at Ramos Boxing in Albany. Allen wanted to go to nationals and worked with his coach to make it happen. Allen took on nine opponents over a two-month span and went 8-1. He qualified for nationals in his first year and competed in December of 2021 at the USA Boxing National Championship.
Allen lost to the “number two guy in the country” in semifinals that year, and finished the year ranked 6th in the country. After just his first year.
Building to this moment
After his successful first season, Allen said he wanted to make boxing “his dream.” Over the past two years, Allen has been building to the brink of his pro debut.
Since that first year, Allen said he has had 50 amateur fights and has a 41-9 record. Allen said that seven of his losses came from a split decision but that he’s learned from the other two losses he had.
“That includes all my amateur experience,” Allen said. “That includes MMA. I was 1-0 for the MMA title at FCFF. I’m 2-0 in kickboxing, and I’m 46-9 in boxing.”
According to Allen, some of his accolades now include being 2-time Golden Glove State Champion, 1-time Regional Golden Glove Champion, and was the former No. 2 ranked boxer in USA Boxing.
Allen said he became a “nomad” of sorts, seeking gyms and mentorship across Oregon to hone his craft. Some of the gyms are Toe 2 Toe, American Top Team, Fisticuffs Gym, and Impact Jiu Jitsu. Right now, Allen spars and trains with other pros at gyms like American Top Team, Sonrise Boxing, and Fisticuffs. Allen also works out at Pacific Athletic Club (PAC) in Columbia City, a place he’s been going since he was 15 years old. Allen said they are actually sponsoring his fight this weekend.
“I’m actually just training everywhere because the Oregon boxing program has really opened up to me and let me train. They give me advice, and really, I’m learning from everyone,” Allen said. “That’s why I love it; they take me in and teach me. That’s all I want to do: keep learning and getting better.”
Allen said he does something every day to prepare and train. Even when he’s not doing something in the gym or with a partner, he watches films, ices any sore spots, uses the sauna, and tracks his diet. The preparation is a full routine.
Most people who debut professionally have been building to that moment their whole life. Allen is making this jump after just three years. Allen told his coach, Victor Morales, that he was ready to make the leap professionally, and Morales agreed.
Leading up to the fight, Allen has been working with his team to prepare for his big fight. Allen said the preparation is a mix of anticipating what his opponent may do while focusing on his own style.
Win or lose, Allen said the first fight will be a landmark in his boxing career, and he’s going into it with an open mind, ready to learn from the experience.
Allen expressed gratitude to PAC for its support and sponsorship. Allen also noted the role the community has had in his life.
“I grew up with a great community,” Allen said. “The St. Helens community feels like family every time I come home.”
Allen will bring that support into the ring when he makes his debut this Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased at https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/o69n7r8vx3/arena-wars-fighting-series, or by contacting Haidon Allen on Instagram.
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