“Some people may hear that and say ‘I’m going to quit,’” Buchanan said. “But I take it as at least somebody is not trying to just throw me out there to get my head knocked off.”
But until then, the 20-year-old is just focused on learning the sport and getting his weight down to be as prepared as possible when the time to compete comes.
As a result of training at Metro Fitness under Musa Muhammad — who has 35 years of experience — since March 26, Buchanan has lost 30 pounds and learned to throw punches the right way.
“His progress has been extremely excellent,” Muhammad said. “He doesn’t make any excuses. He tries hard and the level that I have him on he is progressing very well. Just three months in the gym his weight is coming down tremendously.”
Buchanan first entered the gym weighing 280 pounds, but is now 250 and still aiming to get down to 190.
“We work out until I drop,” Buchanan said. “Then when I drop I get up and keep going because the next time I’m not going to drop at that point.”
“The important thing with a young fighter like him is really being coachable,” Muhammad said. “Once you are coachable then you have the ability to learn, follow instructions, do what you have to do and give it time and patience.”
Since Buchanan has this attitude, Muhammad believes he won’t be in the ring overzealously pursuing his opponent.
“I’m teaching him to be a counter puncher, an inside fighter with boxing skills,” Muhammad said. “A lot of times people have a misconception that when you have a guy who is small and short he can’t box.
“But every short fighter doesn’t have to be a slugger,” Muhammad said. “It’s just that a fighter has to understand his reach and what his position is to be able to box in that position.”
Even though much of Buchanan’s training routine mainly consists of punching the bag and shadow boxing, he had a positive showing in his first sparring session.
“I was impressed with what I saw,” Muhammad said. “He showed me he had the ability to fight back — that is the main thing.”
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