HOUSTON, TX, April 9, 2012 – This Saturday brings forth the latest rendition of the Legacy Amateur Series and along with it comes one of the most anticipated amateur fights in recent memory in the main event between “2Fly” Levi West and Charlie Ontiveros. The Legacy Amateur welterweight belt will be on the line in this one but if the pre-fight chatter between these two are of any indication, they’ll be fighting for even more than that as each will be looking to put on a definitive display to prove to area fans and themselves that they are in fact the #1 amateur welterweight currently fighting in the Houston area.
We spoke to one of the two recently to discuss his background in MMA and everything leading up to this fight.
Legacy Amateur Series 8 Interview – Levi West (Team Tooke)
I’m 20 years old right now but the urge to fight all started when I was in elementary. I was a good kid and student but for some reason I would always find myself getting in to fights in school ALL the time and it followed me throughout junior high and high school. I would always get tickets for fighting. I even got kicked off the bus for fighting. One day when I was 14 my aunt mentioned to my mom about this new boxing gym that just opened off of 1960 in Humble so I figured I would give it a try. I joined thinking I was a badass until my 1st sparring session. I got my ass beat. I had my first boxing match at golden gloves a couple months later at 144lbs and lost by decision. From there I just started training harder and won a bunch more boxing fights including 3 Golden Gloves titles.
Fast forwarding to age 17 and one of my best friends Brandon Gauthier started telling me about Team Tooke. I already heard great things about Coach Travis so I tried out the gym and immediately felt like home. I loved the classes. Team Tooke changed my whole outlook on the sport as well as my work ethic. Over 2 years later with Tooke and here I am! I can honestly say I will be with team Tooke until I retire. I love all my teammates and coaches, Were a family and that is what makes us a strong team.
I just want become a better person/fighter everyday and to be a great student of the game until I make it to the UFC. Also would like to enroll back in to college to get my EMT certification and hopefully save some lives in the future.
How often do you train and what do with your time when you’re not in the gym?
Well I train year round. Even after my fights I’m in the gym that following Monday doing something. Other than that, I love to hang out with my friends and family. I enjoy fishing and everything outdoors. I love road trips and putting the Mac down on every hot girl I see I love the nightlife so I go clubbing quite a bit even though I have no dancing skills. I usually impress people with the robot <laughs> But on a serious note, I love helping people out and putting little charity events together for the less fortunate. I don’t ever talk about it because I don’t do it to be popular. I do it because I love helping people. Other than that I’m just your everyday guy who enjoys life.
You last fought at Cage Combat 8 against Jeremy Lieder. Tell us about that fight and how it’s prepared you for your next one this Saturday.
I wasn’t impressed with my performance in my last fight, The game plan was to make him stand with me and knock him out but he did a good job at closing the distance and forcing me to take him down before I got taken down. But I believe that everything happens for a reason and maybe it was a good thing I won the fight on the ground because I came out injury-free. I feel great right now, training has been awesome and I been working my ass off. I’m ready to throw down brotha. This training camp has been everything I expected it to be and more. I work on every part of my game every day. Not saying I’m equally strong in everything… Obviously my striking is better than my ground but my ground game is good and a lot of people think it isn’t. I believe it’s great to have the mindset of a white belt because it makes me want to continuously learn new things and work really hard.
Just by what I’ve seen from his fights, he has a karate style background and I think he is very talented. But I know I’m stronger in everything. I didn’t take anything personal, I was mad at the moment of all the trash talking but I got over it and now I’m 100% relaxed and focused. You can always predict how a fight goes but we won’t really know until that bell rings. I will win the fight with whatever opportunity I am given, ground or standing.
Do you have any last message for Charlie?
I hope we can both give it our all and may God keep both of us injury-free coming out of the fight. May the better man win.
Anything else you want to add?
Thanks to Team Tooke, Jacksons MMA, Brett Boyce, Armbar Submission Gear, Mr Nutrition, Athletic Republic, Revgear, family, friends, God. And thank you Mike for taking time to interview me.