His gloves are on and boxing coach Kelly Ricketts is ready to teach his craft and prove the benefits of his sport.
The one-time heavyweight boxing champion of British Columbia recently returned to 100 Mile House after a 20-year absence to open Zeus Fight Science – a boxing and fitness centre for men, women and children of all ages.
Rickets once ran the Bighorn Boxing Club in the upstairs of Stan Halcro Arena where he trained approximately 20 youths and eight competitive fighters.
One of his brightest stars in the local ring was Clay Peters who went on to be the super heavyweight champion of Canada.
His own son, Kelly Ricketts Jr., was a two-time Golden Gloves champion, three-time medallist at the Canadian championships and was considered to be a top Olympic contender. Another son, Wade Ricketts, was a Silver Gloves champ.
100 Mile resident Doug Friesen also trained under him and won a Silver Gloves provincial championship.
Ricketts hung up his competitive gloves in 1989, but slipped briefly out of retirement in 1992 at the request of the BC Amateur Boxing Association to fight John Flewin for the BC Heavyweight Championship at the PNE Agrodome.
He was successful and for the two decades that followed, Ricketts successfully trained several notable boxers on the Lower Mainland and in Saskatchewan. Among them was Canadian Muay Thai champion and top contender for the world kick-boxing title, Wade Irwin and sixth dan tae kwon do master PK Kim from Korea.
Ricketts says he is happy to be back in 100 Mile and in his new gym on Exeter Road. One wall is lined with speed bags and another with heavy punching bags. The centrepiece is a brand new competition ring.
Ricketts says he is looking forward to working with people, from beginners to elite and folks don’t have to be interested in fighting to get something out of boxing.
“What I do is geared for fitness, but it’s done with a boxing regime,” he says, adding it’s a great workout for women, too.
Regular classes run in the day and evening; they are open to everyone, but he will also have separate sparring nights.
Ricketts says he is looking forward to bringing in both amateur and pro fights in the future for public entertainment.
He holds bachelor degrees in both clinical psychology and sports administration – two disciplines he believes go hand-in-hand with athletic endeavours and life in general.
“Life is like a competitive sport. The more you put into it the more you get out of it.”
