A group of local boxers came back to Bonnyville with some hardware after a good performance at provincials in Red Deer earlier this month.
Boxers Nolan Dallaire, Mark Fieger, Isiah Hayden and Enrique Tovar all participated in bouts at the provincial championships with both Tovar and Dallaire winning gold medals.
“I was very impressed,” said coach Ray Kahanyshan. “They all work hard. They are always in good shape. They don't quit and they did really well this time.”
Torvar had to fight twice at the weekend event needing a win in his first bout to make the finals on the Sunday. He came away with an “easy” victory, improving his record to 3-2 and winning the gold medal.
“It was an easy fight. I got the knockout in the middle of the third round,” said Tovar. “I expected more from the other guy because it was provincials; it is bigger than an ordinary fight.”
Tovar, who has been boxing since 2012, says he took the fight for fun and didn't have any expectations going in.
“I didn't expect to win,” said Tovar. “I was just going for fun and for experience. Win or lose, it didn't really matter to me.”
Dallaire joined Tovar as the only other Bonnyville boxer to come home with a medal from Red Deer. He faced what he referred to has his “toughest opponent so far” and won a gold medal.
“I did win, but I think I can do better,” said Dallaire. “I think that I need to control myself a bit more. I went out too hard, too early, so I think for my next fight I should try and pace myself and be a little more relaxed.”
The other two fighters took fights just for experience, with Hayden fighting a senior, two years older than himself.
“I did a good job and lasted all three rounds,” said Hayden. “He beat me with his range and I don't think I pressured him enough.”
Coach Nestor Hayden explained that Isiah Hayden took the bout for experience.
“Isiah is a little heavy. He had to drop down a little bit and enter into the 165-pound category. I think that is the best level for him. He took a bout for experience. He was weighing in around 178 pounds,” said Nestor. “We have got a little bit of preparing to do. He is headed to the Western Canadians.”
Fieger, the fourth fighter to compete, is fighting in a variety of events to get experience for his first ever mixed martial arts (MMA) fight at the King of the Cage event in Cold Lake on June 6.
“I got outclassed,” said Fieger. “I tried to drop down another weight class at the last minute. I had to cut seven pounds the night before. The guy was fast. He was good.”
The previous weekend, Fieger went down to Calgary and won a gold medal in a jiu-jitsu competition. His boxing record isn't great, as he has lost more bouts than he has won, but he feels he is gaining great experience from them.
“I have my first MMA fight coming up in Cold Lake. So all of these other events are just helping me get the jitters and the ring rust out before I go and fight there.”
Overall, Kahanyshan was impressed with his boxers' performances at provincials.
“It was great. Hopefully the success will keep coming,” said Kahanyshan. “We lose a lot of boxers once they get a job or move to Edmonton for school. We have a lot of good fighters.”
