Apparently, amateur boxing is popular in Langley.
The 40th Clash at the Cascades show hosted by Langley City Boxing this past Friday at the Coast Hotel ballroom was a success at the box office, with a standing room only crowd taking in the action.
The main event and semi-main event were over quickly.
The much anticipated main event between welterweights Ilya Kovalenko of Raincity Boxing and Josh Wright of Ocean City Boxing ended after only one round.
In the first round, Wright landed a perfect right cross that landed flush on the button.
“The blow broke Kovalenko’s nose and his corner retired him,” reported Langley City Boxing manager Dave Allison, who promotes the Clash series.
It goes in the books as a second round TKO for Josh Wright.
The semi-main also ended early due to an injury when Scott Woodward of City Boxing and Jeremy Cooke of Prince George clashed heads in the first round of their super lightweight fight.
Woodward was unmarked but Cooke received a cut, referee Gregg Harrison stopped the bout and ruled it a no contest.
The entertaining undercard did not disappoint, however, Allison said.
Cole Hamel of Ocean City won a decision over Cody Robertson of WKX in a super middleweight bout.
In the only woman’s bout Melina Gomez of Vancouver’s Eastside Boxing won a decision over Liz Jackson of Surrey’s WKX.
Kelvy Serrano of Surrey’s Port Kells Boxing Club lost a close decision to Colton Bilochuk of Spruce Capital Boxing Club of Prince George.
Manraj Dhohoa, 15, of Bisla’s won a decision over Jerrell Serrano, 16, of Port Kells in a super lightweight fight.
“Both fighters were composed well beyond their years in a very good youth bout,” Allison said.
Kyle Banks of Kelowna’s Madkatz Boxing and Matt Dai of Ocean City Boxing engaged in what Allison described as “a war” in a lightweight bout, with Banks getting the victory.
The opening bout was also a youth match-up pitting Jason Nehal, 16, of Spruce Capital and Farhaan Asif, 17, of WKX in Featherweight youth bout.
Asif won the decision in a spirited match.
The next Clash – slated for Friday, March 11 – will be a pro-am competition with Canadian champion Sarah Pucek returning in a professional match.
