Weight-loss journey leads Vandenberghe to ring

When you ask Darcy Vandenberghe about all he’s gained from boxing, the conversation invariably turns to everything he’s lost.

The 39-year-old fighter from Boissevain, who will make his amateur debut at The Spring Showcase on Saturday, May 9 at the Victoria Inn, has dropped 130 pounds in a just over a year since joining the Brandon Fitness Combat Academy.

“I was 360 pounds and I really wanted to lose some weight,” Vandenberghe said. “It was actually just in March (2025) and I saw it on Facebook — Ryker (Batson) was advertising it — and I thought I would give it a try.

“You’re always a little nervous to come into a gym with a bunch of new people but I ended up coming here and everyone was so welcoming. I joined and lost 130 pounds.”

The card is at the Victoria Inn’s Imperial Ballroom. The doors open at 5 p.m., and the fights start at 6 o’clock, with the event likely wrapping up by 9 or 9:30.

Tickets are available at Peak Performance and Athletics at 863 10th St., or at the door if any are left. They are $30 each in advance or $35 at the door.

Batson, who is organizing the event and operates the combat academy, said Vandenberghe’s story is incredible.

“When he first came in, he just came to lose weight,” Batson said. “That was his goal. Then one day he asked about sparring and he tried it out and he said he was hooked ever since. He leaves with a smile.

“It’s great to see because he loves it.”

That’s a two-way street. Since the first time he walked in the door, Vandenberghe has felt like part of a community that supported his goals.

“You can’t find a better group of people,” Vandenberghe said. “Every time you come here, people are fist bumping you, smiling, they’re all helping, no matter what you’re doing. If you want to learn anything, you can ask anybody in here and they’ll help you.”

And that’s led to him to the ring.

The right-hander will be competing at heavyweight in his first time in the ring at The Spring Showdown.

He’s not nervous, saying with a smile he thinks it will be fun.

“I’m super excited,” Vandenberghe said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I just never had time, but now I do, so it’s a good time to start.”

He’s one of six Westman products scheduled to fight.

While Vandenberghe’s progress in the ring in the last year is undeniable, Batson can’t get over the unusual life transformation that’s unfolded before his eyes. And while he’s happy to be part of it, he says the gym has gained while Vandenberghe has lost.

“As a coach, it’s great to see,” Batson said. “We have his profile picture and when I see him now, I don’t even recognize him. He’s a different guy and I think he’s lost over 100 pounds he said, within a year too, which is pretty crazy. That’s a lot of weight.

“And he’s a great community guy, he’s always uplifting everyone during workouts and is just a great guy to have around.”

Vandenberghe, who has become an evangelist for the gym, noted people who want to get fit don’t even have to box, they can just come and hit the bags. Regardless of what happens in the ring, he’s already a winner.

“I always say when I meet people who are trying to get fit that ‘Hey, I went from 360 to 230, all thanks to BFCA,” Vandenberghe said. “I’ve always worked hard but life gets away from you. “It was time to regroup and start over.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com