Fight Night Fundraiser in Nelson shows Boxing is Back
By Bruce Fuhr
It’s been a long, long . . . long time since local fighters have been able to perform in front of home supporters.
Saturday, in front of a sold out crowd at the Nelson Rod and Gun Club the Nelson Boxing Club was able to stage its first fight card in more than 30 years with the Get to the Golden Gloves Fight Night Fundraiser Event.
“This is big for us,” said the main driver behind the Nelson Boxing Club Jesse Pineiro.
“It’s the first boxing match in Nelson that I’m aware of since 1983.” “So it’s big for the town,” added Pinero, coach of the Nelson Boxing Club.
“It’s big for our club. . .. It’s kind of a culmination of a lot hard work for our club. We’ve been doing this for three years now and now we finally have enough guys to host a match.
“So this feels pretty good to have come this far.”
Right from the opening bell, it was obvious the atmosphere in the building the crowd was into the action inside the ring.
Dom Borbosa from the Salmon Arm Bulldogs Club edged Benito Ward from Spokane, Wash. in a Junior B 576 kgs Novice bout in a split decision.
After Emmet Emblau from 2 Rivers Quesnel and Aiden Gareau of Cranbrook staged an exciting battle in the 27 kgs Initiation match, it was time for the home crowd to get onto their feet for Nelson’s own Riel Martinez in the 35kgs Initiation bout.
Martinez did not disappoint the home side as the diminutive fighter held his own against Dylan Muhlig of Cranbrook.
“I’m very impressed with the response we see here tonight,” Pineiro said.
“I’ve been stressed out all week hoping people would show up. The support we’ve received from the town has been amazing . . . from the people in the community and the boxing community as well as other towns.”
The other match results had Payson White of Thistletown/Kelowna and Charlie Nelson of Cranbrook fight in a Junior A Exhibtion before Tristan Ewanin and Eric Whitecap, both of Calgary Boxing scored unanimous decisions over Ty Kolbeck of Cranbrook and Nelson boxer Elias Martinez, respectively.
Clive Fagan of Calgary scored a TKO decision over Toby Carroll of Nelson while Yamood Ajaj of Calgary earned a unanimous decision win over Dayton Swaan of 2 Rivers Boxing Club of Quesnel.
In the main event, between Olin Lee 2 Rivers Boxing Club of Quesnel and Israel Alvarez of Spokane, Lee earned a split decision.
Nelson boxers will now focus their attention the 2016 BC Golden Gloves Tournament, set for the weekend of June 10-11 at 2 Rivers Boxing Club in Quesnel.
However, the excitement, and success, of Saturday’s Get to the Golden Gloves Fight Night Fundraiser Event will continue for months to come.
