Krishan Lysenko didn’t even need to finish a fight to win her first B.C. Golden Gloves title.
Lysenko was representing the Nelson Boxing Club at the provincial tournament in Mission, B.C., when she stepped into the ring Saturday for the women’s 64-kilogram open title bout.
She faced down Vancouver’s River Tucker and unexpectedly won when her opponent withdrew prior to the second round with a shoulder injury.
“The first round was a lot of fun,” said Lysenko. “I felt like my rhythm was good. I haven’t really watched the video yet. I know if I do now I’ll start picking it out, seeing wide punches probably, but it’s all good in the moment when I’m in the ring.”
Lysenko’s title was just one of several highlights for the club.
On Friday, Nelson’s Jesse Lyons rallied in the third round against Mark Lindsay in an exhibition elite bout that won fight of the night honours. Nelson’s Samson Berkeley meanwhile earned a victory after his opponent, Tanner Graham, threw in the towel just 30 seconds into their junior C bout.
Cranbrook’s Nike Blackmore, who had Nelson coach Jesse Pineiro in his corner, boxed Tristan Burke in a no-decision youth exhibition.
The next day, Lyons was back at it with a strong performance in an exhibition against Nialls Robertson.
Nelson’s Riel Martinez used nice footwork and counter punching to dominate a junior A initiate bout against Tyson’s Moutray. Martinez’s brother Elias meanwhile defeated Sasha Lambert in a junior B fight.
Finally, Blackmore returned to win a unanimous decision against Colton Hubert in a bout that was awarded fight of the night.
Lysenko, who will train with Team B.C. later this month, said she thought her teammates deserved plenty of praise for their performances.
“It was really high energy and everyone went in and did what they went to do,” she said. “I think everybody did box really well.”
