Gloved Up Promotions made a huge announcement recently that will see history made, if all goes according to plan, at the ‘Rumble at the Rink’ taking place May 2 at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo.
Vancouver Island boxing legend Gordy Racette, who grew up in Port Alberni, will be making history on May 2 as he will look to become just the third professional boxer (the first Canadian) in the world to fight in five different decades at the age of 63. Racette will go in to the record books alongside American boxer Saoul Mamby and the legendary Roberto Duran, from Panama.
Terry Strawson, of Gloved Up Promotions, is looking forward to the potential history-making bout, even though it comes with a bit of hesitation.
“This wasn’t a decision that was made easily for us,” Strawson said. “We know there are risks, like any fighter, that come along with being a boxer. Finding a quality opponent for Gordy could be a challenge but it’s one that we feel we can accomplish.
But we’re not going to over look the fact that Gordy, like all our fighters on the card, will have to get the go ahead from doctors before stepping into the ring. If we don’t run into any of those problems, Gordy will make history and it’s going to be a great feather in his cap.”
Racette came into his “legend” after winning six straight toughman competitions in the 1980s, gaining a reputation for being a hard-nosed, tough fighter.
Racette has worked for the Kidney Foundation of Canada for the last eight years and will raise awareness for organ donation to coincide with his history making fight.
“I want to help people that are in need,” Racette said “I want to keep them from suffering and even dying. The more people that donate, the more people that can be saved. This is just as important, if not more important, than becoming only the third fighter to fight in five decades.”
Strawson also said that former UFC fighter Dashon Johnson will be making his way up north from the United States to take part in the event. As far as the local talent goes, the potential for a mixture of both professional and amateur boxers on the card is a very good possibility.
“The whole idea of this event is to put on the best show possible,” Strawson said. “We had success last year with our first event and that show included three local fighters. We’re working on getting local talent back on the card this time around as well and we feel it’s something that will happen thanks to the success of last years show.”
Aubrey ‘Bam Bam’ Morrow was one of the three local fighters on the card last year and Strawson hopes to have Morrow back in action on May 2 at the Frank Crane Arena.
“He’s a talented fighter and is right at the top for the middleweight title here in Canada,” Strawson said.
“We’re working on getting something done with Aubrey and we hope that we can make that happen. It’d be great to have him on our card again because he’s an explosive talent.”
