Friday the 13th is usually associated with bad luck. For local boxing fans, however, this is one lucky day. Exactly five years ago to the date, on March 13, 2010, the first ever Clash @ The Cascades took place.
This coming Friday, Clash @ The Cascades 35 will take place at the Coast Convention Centre in downtown Langley. The popular boxing series has been the boost that has jumpstarted amateur boxing in the area and throughout B.C.
It was also the first show to be sanctioned by the British Columbia Combative Sports Association, known as Combsport. This association now sanctions most of the amateur boxing in B.C., now is approaching 50 clubs province-wide, and sanctions near 30 events per year all over the province. The association has expanded across Canada and is now affiliated with the WBC (World Boxing Council) and is part of an international system.
Friday’s show will offer a double main event and has the tagline “Double Trouble” Julian Kim of Surrey’s Port Kells Boxing Club will challenge for the B.C. Super Middleweight Championship. Kim is on a roll, having come off three wins in a row. He won the B.C. Golden Gloves last August as well as was awarded the Golden Boy Award as best boxer. Kim has a challenge in front of him when he faces a very tough Aaron McKitrick of Kelowna’s Madkatz Boxing Club.
McKitrick has done nothing but win every fight he has fought. The undefeated McKitrick is ranked #2 in B.C., and Julian Kim holds the top spot with the #1 ranking. The title is vacant and will be decided over the duration of a five-round fight.
The other half of the double main event will have Carlson Gracies Oliver Vajda of Maple Ridge defend his Welterweight Championship.
Vajda has only one loss and it was at the Golden Gloves last August when he fought Canadian Middleweight Champion Robert Couzens. The fight was a split decision in favor of the heavier Couzens. He will face former Western Canadian Champion and City Champion George Vourtsis of Sunshine Coast Boxing Club in Gibsons.
Also on the card will be a middleweight elimination fight when two undefeated boxers see whose number will go. Ben Falconer of Sargeant’s Boxing, a Vancouver club, will take on Ross Walker of Tamari Martial Arts in Nanaimo. This four-rounder will be joined by another four-rounder also with two undefeated boxers. Kian Heidari of North Burnaby will also meet a boxer from Sargeant’s when he faces Bryce Gougeon in a light heavyweight showdown.
These fights and more and all the action starts at start at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m., plenty of free parking and a bar service at the event. Tickets are available at the door and kids 12 and under are free. For information on the card call 604-534-7899 or email cityfite@telus.net
