Fighting to graduate, graduating to fight

The job hunt is weighing heavily on the shoulders of seniors as graduation rapidly approaches in May. While most students plan on entering an entry level position affiliated with their major, it is not uncommon for CU graduates to jump into a career that has nothing to do with their field of study. This is exactly the case with CU senior Zach Worthington.

Like many students, Worthington's main goal is to make it to May 6 and obtain his degree. After that, he plans on pursuing his goal of becoming a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter. He has been boxing since the age of six with a goal of going pro.

With a potential degree under his belt come May, Zach figures it is the perfect time to pursue a professional title belt as well. “It’s something you’re all in or all out. So I plan on giving it a year or two and completely do nothing but train and hopefully fighting works out,” Worthington said. He does however worry about failing. Once Zach attains his diploma he will have the comfort in knowing their will always be a back up plan.

A typical day for Zach consists of a full day of classes, personal training at L.A. boxing, and then at least two hours of training. With a heavy course load, he has a difficult time dedicating his schedule specifically to fighting. “I try to schedule my fights around my school schedule. So if it was right on finals or I had a lot of work to do, I wouldn’t schedule a fight,” Worthington said.

He attributes a lot of his time management to his team at L.A. boxing. “Working here at L.A. boxing has been great. I can combine my working out with my work. It’s a really great environment and it makes it really easy for me to balance everything out,” Worthington said.

The fight lasted three rounds. Zach opened the second and third rounds with strong roundhouse kicks to the head of his opponent, Milton Murphy. But in the end, Murphy completed more takedowns and body blows giving him the unanimous victory.

Because it was an amateur fight, he did not receive any compensation. He did however gain the title of “fight of the night,” rewarding Zach a bonus for his efforts.

As Worthington anticipates graduating from school, he also hopes to advance from his amateur title. A professional title will bring in the money needed to make his dream a career. “Once you get in the pro’s it depends on the promoter but you can easily make a living off of it. There are a ton of guys who make a living off it,” he said.

If Zach wins his fight coming up on June 25th, there is a possibility that he could qualify to be a professional fighter in MMA. The fight is located at the Grizzly Rose in Denver.