The 6-foot, 155-pound aspiring chef has had eight bouts in his two years as a competitive amateur and hasn't been knocked down or taken a standing eight count yet, despite taking on much more experienced fighters, earning him an invitation to the recent Ontario Golden Gloves tournament in Hamilton.

His 3-5 record as a middleweight has included losses to undefeated boxers and he feels the judges haven't given him a fair shake at times, specifically in his second fight in the Hamilton event against an opponent from London.

"I thought I outscored him. He hit harder than I did but I doubled his punch count, but (losing) happens," the 20-year-old Calgary native said. "I've been referred to as an Irish fighter because I'll take a shot to give two more. I'm trying to correct that and be technically sound with defence and then work on counter-punching and attacking."

Baidacoff became interested in boxing after seeing his dad Jim watching it on television and Stephen now trains four times a week at Boreland's School of Karate under the direction of Dustin Boreland and with longtime boxing coach Everton McEwan, who runs a gym in Woodbridge.

McEwan took five of his pupils to Bermuda in February for a series of bouts on what was billed as Teachers' Rugby Fight Night. Baidacoff was the lone Canadian to win his match, twice using his jab to knock down a rugby player who was previously 4-0.

As for his future, Baidacoff will likely box in some local-area club shows and is considering a return to Thailand for more Muay-Thai training for a couple of months.

"This isn't for the money and it's all just a learning process for me," Baidacoff added. "The goal is to keep building up as an amateur while I'm going to school, taking culinary arts at George Brown College."

(Eamonn Maher can be reached at

emaher@independentfreepress.com)