Some of B.C.’s top amateur boxers will be in Vernon this weekend as they battle at the prestigious provincial Golden Gloves Saturday, April 21 and April 22 at the Rec Centre auditorium.
Tournament organizer Tony Stamboulieh, head instructor at CounterPunch Boxing Club, says preparations for the long-standing event are going well. He estimated 40 athletes had already registered by Tuesday morning.
“We’ve got boxers from all over the province, and we even have applications from boxers in California and Alberta,” said Stamboulieh, first vice-president of Boxing B.C.
“From age 12 right up to elite senior boxers. One of the boxers (Thomas Speirs of Prince George) is the No. 2 Lightheavyweight in Canada right now.
“Many boxers have gone from Golden Gloves to national titles in amateur boxing, and then on to professional national titles and even world titles.”
The event, sanctioned by Boxing B.C., begins Saturday night, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Sunday- action starts at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Breakaway Fitness (220-2801 35th Avenue) and at The Bean Scene (2923 30th Avenue).
“We’re expecting a full house on both days,” said Stamboulieh, who plans to honour a pair of B.C. boxing legends at the event.
The first is Vernon’s Alphonse Chabot, a former Golden Gloves champion and Canadian professional Bantam-, Feather- and Lightweight champion. Chabot, a member of the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, had more than 100 fights, losing only three times. His boxing career was cut short by a serious car accident.
The other honouree is Chief Roger Adolph of the Fountain Band in Lillooet.
Another ex-Golden Gloves winner, Adolph went on to box professionally in London, England in the 1960s. He now coaches with the Just Do It Boxing Club in Lillooet.
While most of the volunteer crew is in place, Stamboulieh is still searching for a ringside doctor. Contact him at (250) 260-1082.
