Boxers face off in last year’s charity boxing event, Judgement Night II. Photo Submitted

Boxers face off in last year’s charity boxing event, Judgement Night II. Photo Submitted

Judgement Night III seeking locals to step in the ring and take a hit for charity

Are you ready to rumble? If not, it's time to start training.

  • Dec. 5, 2019 12:00 a.m.

Are you ready to rumble? If not, it’s time to start training.

Coal Valley Boxing Club is hosting its third charity boxing event on Feb. 1, 2020 and they want you to step in the ring for Judgement Night III.

Volunteer boxers will train for 10 weeks with the boxing club before donning the gloves to compete against fellow community boxers in the charity event. Each boxer will battle it out in one match, comprising of three one minute rounds.

Mike Johnson, president of the Coal Valley Boxing Club encourages “volunteers from all aspects of the community, waitresses, servers, store workers, to come and train with the club.”

“The whole training develops confidence and will get the competitors in shape for February,” he said. “Come Judgement Night, the boxers will have a huge adrenaline rush and feel great in themselves knowing they have stepped into the ring on their own and raised a ton of money for charity.”

In the past, proceeds from the event have gone to families in need, The Salvation Army, Fernie Christmas Cheer, Fernie Family and Friends, and various other individuals.

After the event, the members and directors of the club decide where the money should go, Johnson explained.

He also urged organizations or individuals who might benefit from the funds to step forward, adding that “if they wish to remain anonymous that is fine.”

Judgement Night II, the boxing club’s last charity event, raised nearly $15,000 for local charities and individual families in the Elk Valley. The event was a sellout, according to Johnson.

The cost to become a boxer in this event is $200 which covers the training and a donation to the event. The entry cost also covers a membership with BC Boxing which will allow the person to box in the sanctioned event.

Johnson urges anyone willing to giving boxing a shot to sign up as soon as possible so that they can fully benefit from the training, which will be available during the day time as well for people who work evenings and are unable to attend the later training sessions.

After the volunteer boxers throw their punches, the event will then be completed with several bouts of amateur boxing featuring fighters from Fernie and from across British Columbia and Alberta. All in all, the event promises to be a great night full of action.

Johnson added that they are also looking for sponsors and that if anyone is willing to partner with Judgement Night III, they should contact the club.

Anyone interested in participating in or sponsoring the event should contact Mike Johnson at 250-531-0262 or drop in to the boxing club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.

The Free Press