Leo Nguyen Mase Sports interview on his December 12 title fight

The Leo Nguyen Mase Sports interview covered Nguyen’s December 12 fight for the WBC amateur Canadian welterweight title, what he would change about his R8 performance, and why tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand raised his ambitions. The Canadian Muay Thai fighter also discussed representing Vietnam, choosing Muay Thai over kickboxing, and working as a drafter while he pursues a professional career.

What did Leo Nguyen learn from the R8 tournament?

Leo Nguyen said R8 reinforced the need to stay active without abandoning a trusted game plan. He took no damage in his most recent fight and has returned to training, though he was not satisfied with his performance against a tough opponent. Looking back, he would have done little differently beyond throwing more and overthinking less.

Preparing for several fights in one night

Nguyen went into R8 knowing he could potentially fight three times in one night. After roughly 26 fights, he described his approach as treating the occasion like another day at work. If he won his first fight, he planned to turn his attention to recovery before the next one.

In the locker room, he stayed calm, prayed and listened to music before warming up. Nguyen said he is Buddhist through his father’s Vietnamese side, though he described himself more broadly as spiritual. Once it was time to fight, he focused on trusting his coaches and team.

Activity, adjustments and self-talk

A tournament requires a fighter to account for possible injuries and a next opponent whose style may differ from the first, Nguyen said. He uses self-talk and affirmations before fights and believes controlling his emotions matters: fighting angry, in his view, can send a game plan out the window.

Against his R8 opponent, Nguyen trusted the plan he and his coaches had made and thought he was doing reasonably well. He wanted to be more active while concentrating on the exchange in front of him rather than thinking too far ahead. Nguyen put that approach this way:

one punch at a time like one kick at a time one minute at a time just step by step

What did Leo Nguyen take from competing in Malaysia and Thailand?

Leo Nguyen said back-to-back tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand showed him the level he wants to reach. He competed at the IFMA World Championships and the WBC World Championship, and said the experience of facing fighters accustomed to that stage strengthened his desire to compete at the highest level.

The competition in Malaysia

Nguyen described the first tournament, in Malaysia, as an eye-opener. He said some of the fighters there compete on that kind of stage regularly. Seeing their level did not discourage him; it clarified the standard he wants to meet.

Learning in Thailand and bringing it home

Nguyen also travels to Thailand to compete and learn as both a fighter and a coach. He values being there for the Muay Thai culture as well as the training, and said he would love to return with his students.

His coach has traveled internationally to compete and learn, then passed that knowledge on to the team. Nguyen sees that exchange as important to Canadian Muay Thai: he brings lessons home to his students and remains a learner himself, even while coaching them.

How do Vietnam, Muay Thai and kickboxing shape Leo Nguyen’s career?

Leo Nguyen wants to represent his Vietnamese heritage through Muay Thai, even though he was born and raised in Canada. Kickboxing first drew him into martial arts, but he would choose Muay Thai if he could compete under only one ruleset for the rest of his career. Its culture and wider range of techniques matter to him.

Representing Vietnam

Nguyen said he follows the growth of Muay Thai in Vietnam and wants people there to see what they can do in the sport. His connection to the country is part of what he carries into competition, alongside his Canadian upbringing.

From K-1 and GLORY Kickboxing to Muay Thai

Nguyen grew up watching K-1 and GLORY Kickboxing, and kickboxing was his starting point. Muay Thai later brought out what he called his spiritual side and deepened his appreciation of the culture surrounding the sport.

He also enjoys the additional techniques available under Muay Thai rules, particularly elbows. That combination of culture and the full range of striking is why Muay Thai would be his choice over the discipline that first caught his attention.

What did Leo Nguyen say about his December 12 WBC title fight?

Leo Nguyen is preparing for a December 12 fight in Alberta for the WBC amateur Canadian welterweight title. He has watched his opponent fight and expects a demanding five-round contest between fighters with strong boxing. Unlike at R8, he can prepare for one opponent’s habits, though he still wants to be ready to adjust.

Studying one opponent instead of an eight-fighter field

Nguyen had seen his upcoming opponent fight Adele, a former opponent Nguyen has faced twice. He has also watched pad work and believes the matchup will test both fighters’ hands. Nguyen expects to stay active in the clinch as well as at boxing range, noting that clinch work can score for him.

Preparation for a single opponent lets him study tendencies, habits and rhythm. The Ish Promotions tournament demanded something different: with eight fighters involved, Nguyen had to prepare for a wider range of possibilities. Even now, he does not assume everything he needs to know will be visible beforehand; he expects to make adjustments during the fight.

A first trip to Alberta

Nguyen has not been to Alberta and is looking forward to exploring after the bout. The title is the central opportunity, but the trip will also take him somewhere new in Canada.

What would the WBC title mean for Leo Nguyen’s career?

Leo Nguyen believes the WBC amateur Canadian welterweight title could open doors toward his goal of turning professional. He hopes eventually to compete for a major organization such as ONE Championship, while remaining open to other disciplines if the opportunity makes sense. Away from fighting, he works as a drafter and hopes to become an architect.

A path toward professional competition

Nguyen sees the title as a potential step rather than an endpoint. He named ONE Championship among the organizations he would like to reach and said he would consider MMA opportunities, including from the UFC. He has done some grappling and wrestling, but his immediate focus is the December 12 fight.

Drafting houses and coaching fighters

Nguyen studied architectural engineering and works during the day drafting plans for houses, retail stores and commercial buildings. He grew up interested in building, and becoming an architect remains another ambition. In the evenings, he coaches and trains, fitting both pursuits into the same working day.

How does Leo Nguyen balance training, recovery and life outside fighting?

Leo Nguyen said hard training requires both pushing himself and knowing when to recover. He checks on his health after fights, works on mobility and tries to listen to his body. Fight preparation also means missing time with friends and family and passing up events he would otherwise enjoy.

Recovery after fights

After competing, Nguyen focuses closely on recovery and gets checked. He pays attention to head impacts and does mobility exercises to make sure he feels right. Although he often pushes beyond his limits in training, he said some weeks call for working smarter rather than harder.

Fans may see the pad-work clips he posts when he is fresh, Nguyen said, but not the sessions when he and his coaches push through fatigue. Rest is part of managing that work, particularly after heavy training.

Friends, family and Toronto events

Nguyen values spending time with friends and family and enjoys going to music events, including around Toronto. During a fight camp, he sometimes has to turn down invitations. He still looks for time to see people when training is handled, but often chooses to rest instead.

He said he does not use drugs and rarely drinks because he dislikes the taste and feeling of alcohol. On nights out, he is often the designated driver. For Nguyen, those choices sit alongside training, coaching and his drafting job as practical parts of preparing to fight.