Local boxer John Mountain was defeated in the final round of the Alberta championships in Red Deer last weekend after a split decision, but he’s still ranked second in the province in his weight category, which is nothing to be disappointed about, says his coach.
Had Mountain won the bout, he would have gone to nationals, however there is still a chance of that happening, says Ken Scullion, if the Boxing Alberta board allows a second boxer to represent the province.
“It’s up to them whether or not they send an additional boxer for that weight category,” Scullion said, adding that although Mountain lost the bout, he ultimately won in the end, regardless of the scorecards.
“It’s all part of the process. It’s about learning something every time you go into the ring,” Scullion said. “It takes courage just to step in there and it is empowering, win or loose. It’s not all about winning.”
This mentality is one of the reasons that many people keep coming back to the gym to work out with Scullion at the new facility in the Bold Center.
For Mountain, this was his second time going to provincials but his first as a senior competitor since recently turning 18. But boxing has been part of the young athlete’s life since his early teens. He can be found in the gym almost everyday after school.
“I come almost everyday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and sometimes on weekends,” Mountain said. “I like to fight, and [this club] has brought that to a whole other level.”
Mountain is very thankful to Scullion and says that his coach is a great guy with lots of helpful advice inside and outside of the ring.
“He takes it pretty seriously and really knows his stuff,” Mountain said. “Ken taught me pretty much everything I needed to know about training and dieting.”
Boxing, although a very individualistic sport, has helped many members of the Lac La Biche community find camaraderie and friendship, especially for those that might come from “at risk” backgrounds, according to Scullion.
“Some kids come from troubled backgrounds and yet they manage to come to the gym everyday and they stay focused,” Scullion noted. “Boxing is an individual sport but we are a team and a family and we are here for each other in and out of the ring.”
Scullion also notes that the boxers in the gym get a lot of support from the other club members. If a boxer doesn’t do what he needs to or what they are supposed to do in and out of the ring, then it’s not only Scullion that they have to answer to. By the same standards that same boxer can turn to any of his team members if they needed help with something on a personal level.
Mountain also encourages anyone who wants to join to go and try it out since he has found it so rewarding.
“If people want to join, they should. It’s a good sport and whole different level with all the workouts and training but it’s also fun and games,” Mountain said. “If you train and train, you can get better and stronger and go much longer in the ring.”
The club is based out of the Bold Center and runs sessions Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Scullion often has the younger beginners come from 6 p.m. until about 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. and then has the more advanced students come in afterwards.
For more information about the club and how they run, the best options, said Scullion are to either call the Bold Center at 780-412-3456 or to “show up one night at the ring and talk to me directly and really see what it is like to be part of the club.”
