The hard work being put in by Sunshine Coast Boxing Club members continued to pay off with a number of strong showings at the Combative Sports B.C. amateur event on Nov. 2 in Langley.
First in the ring for the eight-bout card was Gibsons Jenelle Lawson, making her competitive ring debut against Alexandra Blight of West Kelowna's MadKatz Boxing Club, who was also making her debut.
Both women handled the inevitable first bout nerves well and a competitive bout developed.
Lawson kept to coach Ben Smith's fight plan of throwing straight punches and moving to score pointswhile blocking her opponents punches. The boxing skills were quite good forfirst time boxers, as she wona close but unanimous decision.
Shannon Boxing Equipment Sales of Gibsons sponsored Lawson for the bout.
Next up was Randy Hollett in a rematch of his July bout against Jamie Chadwick of Port Kells, which Hollett won by split decision.
Once again these boxers fought skillfully. Chadwick managed to use his height and reach advantage better this time and won a split decision to even the series.
Hollett and Chadwickwill complete their trilogy with a tie-breaker bout Dec. 1 in Richmond. Vibrancy Life Style Management of Gibsons sponsored Hollett.
In the main event, George Vourtsis put his City Boxing title belt on the line against North Burnaby Boxing Club's Ron Pryce.
Pryce, who handed Vourtsis his only loss in 2010, is a boxer type compared to Vourtsis' infighting style.
Pryce controlled the first round by boxing at a distance, keeping away from Vourtsis.
Applying pressure, Vourtsis caught up to Pryce late in the second round and kept the fight on the ropes the rest of the way. The tenacious Vourtsis outworked Pryce on the inside forcing him to hold often as Vourtsis would land a few more punches.
The air in the casino ball room was thick with tension as the judges' score cards were double checked by the chief official.
The referee, 1984 Olympic bronze medalist Dale Walters, called the boxers to ring centre to await the decision and raised Vourtsis hand as a split decision winner, retaining his title.
Vourtsis and Pryce are now scheduled to box a five-round bout Dec. 1 in Richmond for the Combsport BC Title. GV Designs of Gibsons sponsored Vourtsis for the bout.
The club is open weekday evenings andis located at 1010 Chamberlain Rd. in Gibsons. Contact coach Rick Shannon at 604-886-0928 or Hollett at 604-989-5180 for information.
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