Opinion: Fighter from Comanche Nation ready for next matchup


George Tahdooahnippah. Photo from Comanche Boy

George Tahdooahnippah, a member of the Comanche Nation better known as Comanche Boy, will be headed to Denmark for his next big fight:
Without an amateur background, George was getting a late start to boxing. He didn’t have his first professional fight until he was 25. However, his heritage helped extensively with getting him fights and solid paydays. The Native American casinos in Oklahoma were proud to host bouts featuring one of their own, and George was collecting $5-6000 paychecks nearly out of the box.

The downside of course, was that his competition was limited to other regional fighters. George knew he would eventually need to step up in class. In February of 2013, George entered the ring against the fine veteran, Delvin Rodriguez. A regular super middleweight, George struggled to make the 157 weight limit and felt he did not have his legs that night. As well, George admits that his own nerves got the better of him that evening and he could never get loose. He ended up collecting his first loss by a 6th round TKO.

Many fighters might have seen this loss as a major setback. After all, by getting such a late start in boxing, George at 34, was already closer to the end than to the beginning, a fact he is not unaware of. To that end, George has diversified his life. He holds a full time administrative job in construction. Two years ago he claimed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and after boxing he hopes to manage his own construction company. As well, he is very active within his Comanche tribe, working with youth groups on how to maintain good health and doing speaking engagements. He also has an interest in someday entering into tribal politics to help further the opportunities of his people.

However, George is not done with boxing just yet. Since the loss to Rodriguez, Comanche Boy has won 3 of 4 fights, with his only blemish being a technical draw due to a cut from an accidental head butt. This stretch of late career success will lead him to Denmark Saturday to fight Patrick Nielsen in his own backyard for the vacant WBA International Super Middleweight title.

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