The Sunshine Coast Boxing Club has relocated to its new home at 851 Gibsons Way in Andy’s Plaza.
Club coaches George Vourtsis and Randy Hollett have renovated the former laundromat space into a clean, bright, boxing and fitness facility. The gym has a ring, punching bags, boxing gear and cross-training equipment.
Hollett and Vourtsis offer kids, woman’s and men’s boxing and fitness programs as well as competitive boxing.
Club founder Rick Shannon said he is pleased to have Hollett and Vourtsis take over the club and build such a great new gym on a volunteer basis.
“It is very rare that two selfless individuals will have the passion for their sport and willingness to give back to the Sunshine Coast that they would go to the effort that George and Randy have to open this gym on a non-profit basis,” said Shannon.
Located across from Elphinstone Secondary School, and up the street from Gibsons Elementary School, the gym is easily accessible to all.
For program information call Hollett at 604-989-5180 or visit the gym Monday to Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
In competition news, last Saturday, Sept. 13 Vourtsis battled current 175-pound Canadian silver medalist J.Y. Kim of Port Kells in Surrey.
Always looking for a new boxing challenge, the 37-year-old Vourtsis put on 20 pounds and Kim dropped seven pounds so the two men could fight for the vacant 168-pound Vancouver City boxing title.
Kim, fighting in the prime of his life was much too big, crisp punching and powerful for Vourtsis to impose his usual tactic of outlasting his opponents in a war of attrition.
Shannon said he had seen most of Kim’s fights over the last five years and Kim never looked sharper than he did against Vourtsis.
Vourtsis was knocked down in both the first and second rounds and was given eight counts by referee and Canadian boxing legend Gordy Racette.
Sensing that Vourtsis had no hope of winning this fight, Hollett retired his boxer from the bout to protect him from unnecessary punishment.
“Randy knew that George would never give up in a fight on his own, so he made the decision to stop the fight and return another day,” added Shannon. “An amazing warrior, Vourtsis took his loss with class, sportsmanship and is anxious to return to the ring.”
Hollett also was in the ring for a spar with Canadian cruiserweight champion Ken Huber of Kamloops.
While their spar was skillful and entertaining, it was also valuable as Gibsons Jenelle Lawson worked in the ring for the first time as head coach for Hollett and a referee in training got to referee elite boxers for the first time.
As always a number of Sunshine Coast Boxing Club supporters made the trip to the fights to support the club’s boxers.
