Kelowna boxers put in a golden performance at the B.C. Golden Gloves tournament last weekend in Cranbrook, bringing home three championship trophies.
Curtis Anderson of Thistletown Boxing Club extended his early record to 4-0 with a split decision over Kyle Woods of Edmonton in a back and forth battle at 46 kg Novice Jr C. Recent Bronze Gloves champ, Anderson continued to display skills beyond his experience level but had to fight hard in the last round to pull off the victory. Strong combination punching tilted the bout in his favour.
Spencer Howard of the Kelowna Boxing Club won a decision over Alex Zinnich in an exciting slugfest at 69 kg Youth Open. The contest was awarded Best Bout of the tournament. Both fighters took turns landing power punches but Howard had the edge defensively and was able to land several successive punches with combinations.
Ajay Boparai, Kelowna Boxing Club, was avenged in a cross town rematch with Thistletown’s Austin Riggs at 64 kg Youth Open. Riggs was the aggressor and pressed the fight as he did in his victory over Boparai at the Mancini Fight Night card in Kelowna last October. This time Boparai was able to counterpunch effectively, particularly with combinations in the third to earn the decision in a very close bout.
Anthony Haines, Kelowna Boxing Club, dropped a tough split decision contest with Justin Virk of the Trojan Horse Club in Surrey at 70 kg Senior Novice. Haines gave up 6 inches in height and pressed the fight to battle on the inside. Virk landed enough jabs from distance to earn a controversial nod.
*Shingo Yokomoto, Thistletown, also found himself at the wrong end of a disputed split decision. Fighting at 57 kg Senior Novice Yokomoto scored often with the straight right against Ren Villarin from Calgary. Yokomoto boxed again Sunday in an exhibition with former Western Canadian Champion Colin Adams from Cranbrook. He again displayed a strong right hand against the more experienced boxer.
Brady Anderson, Thistletown, boxed an exhibition at 69 kg Senior Open with Sasan Haghighat-Joo from Maple Ridge. Haghighat-Joo was named Golden Boy as the tournament’s outstanding boxer. Anderson put in a strong performance and counter punched effectively.
Masters Competitor George Sanders, 56, of the Kelowna Boxing Club met Tom White, 36, of Cranbrook in an exhibition match at 57 kg. The two older boxers put on a crowd-pleasing bout of three one-minute rounds, displaying surprising movement and speed.
