Nelson Boxers gain valuable experience at Ireland's Celtic Box Cup
By The Nelson Daily Sports
A quartet of fighters from the Nelson Boxing and Athletics Club jumped onto the international stage at the Celtic Box Cup, held September 23-27 in the town of Dungarvan, Waterford, Ireland.
Milane D’Aurelie, Lola Brouillette, Riel Martinez, and Porter Hansen, travelled to Ireland to compete as part of BC’s Provincial Team of 25 Athletes and 5 Coaches from around the province.
The Celtic Box Cup attracted teams from teams from Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England, France, Scotland, Canada and Portugal.
D’Aurelie, 17, scored a pair of gold medals in the Youth Novice and Open Division against elite competition.
In the Youth Novice Division D’Aurelie fought for Gold against Bandon, Ireland’s Leah Geaney. Milane battered Geaney in the first round and continued with the same in the second forcing the Rreferee to wave off the bout giving D’Aurelie the victory.
In the Open Division and D’Aurelie challenged Megan Martin from Ballynacarrow, Ireland, frustrating her more experienced opponent to win a Unanimous Decision and an unprecedented double gold medal.
Other Celtic Box Cup results included:
- Lola Brouillette, 17, lost her semi final match to 5X Irish National Champion and World Championship silver medalist, Carlagh Peake from Ballyhaunis, Ireland. Brouillette won the first round with sharp counters and movement but the pressure and timing of the Irish Champion gave her the slight edge in the final two rounds to pull out the win against Brouillette in a close decision.
- Riel Martinez, 18, lost his Semi Final match to Scottish National Champion, Sonny Kerr by close points decision. Martinez put the pressure on throughout the bout but had trouble dealing with the reach and movement of the Scot.
- Porter Hansen, 15, had two match bouts outside of the tournament as there was no junior division in the Celtic Cup, losing first to Irish National Champion MJ Burk by Split Decision and to Irish Title Challenger Alex Noonan Carmody by RSC-2.
The Celtic Cup, founded in 2013 by Dungarvan Boxing Club founder Gerry O’Mahony, has since grown to be Ireland’s Premier International boxing tournament
On the way to Ireland, the Nelson team stopped in Calgary where D’Aurelie and Riel Martinez both fought — D’Aurelie winning a Unanimous Decision against Lethbridge Albertas Savannah Desert, and Martinez losing a close Split Decision to Alberta Provincial Champion Attila Ahmed from Edmonton.
Next for the Nelson Boxing Club will be Bronze Gloves this coming weekend in Chilliwack followed by fights in Vancouver and Spokane before host Fight Night at the Rod and Gun Club on Saturday, October 21st.
The referee raises the hands of winner Milane D’Aurelie during a bout at the Celtic Box Cup in Ireland. — Submitted photo
