At the Cascades Casino in Langley Oct. 5, the Sunshine Coast Boxing Club (SCBC) had four boxers in action.
In the main event Gibsons' George Vourtsis defended his City Boxing welterweight title with a first round TKO over Vancouver's Jerick Brown.
For his ring entrance, Vourtsis and his corner were led to the ring by hisnine-year-old daughter Helena, who proudly held his champion's belt over her head.
With the pre-title fight pageantry and introductions over, the fight was on.
Brown, a straight-ahead, wide punchingslugger,charged Vourtsis at the bell and pinned him on the ropes. With no other option, Vourtsispunched back furiouslyat his attacker with straight punches and uppercuts inside Brown's wide swings.
Vourtsis then skillfully spun his opponent and had Brown briefly on the ropes.
Brown escaped to the centre of the ring where Vourtsis engaged him and after a flurry of torrid punches scored a knock down with a left hook.
Immediately after the eight count,the boxers tore into each other with Vourtsis winning the exchange, forcing Brown to clinch.
When referee Dianne Dutra, a former professional world boxing champion, broke the boxers, Brown emerged with a golf ball sized lump on his forehead that appeared ready to split open. He was examined by the ringside doctor who ordered the bout stopped due to Brown's injury.
Once again Vourtsis brought the audience out of their seats as he defended his title.
GV Designs sponsored Vourtsis for this bout.
Middleweight Randy Hollett lost a split decision to Burnaby's Ron Pryce.
This was a closely contested affair with Price being just a tad quicker than Hollett, which allowed him to score a few more blows in this well boxed match.
Pryce is trained by former Olympian and professional champion Manny Sobral.
Vibrancy Life Style Management of Gibsons sponsored Hollett.
Earlier in the day Hollett and a few club members delivered warm clothes, blankets and turkey sandwiches to the homeless in the East Hastings area of Vancouver.
He and his wife Jennifer had organized this collection and made 80 sandwiches.
Making his ring debut was Gibsons' Justin Lee who losta three-round bout to Manny Dhilon of Surrey. Sunshine Lodge sponsored Lee for the bout.
Prior to the doors opening, Gibsons' Jenelle Lawson sparred with two differentLangley women. She gave a good account of herself, getting into the ring for the first time with unfamiliar opposition. She and her sparring partner Marni Beggs boxed many rounds to get her ready to take this step up.
SCBC manager Rick Shannon organized the sparring to get Lawson the experience she needs to move into competitive boxing. Coast Moving sponsored her appearance.
To learn more about the club, contact Shannon at 604-886-0928 or Hollett at 604-886-2189,or visit the gym located at 1010 Chamberlain Rd. in Gibsons.
- Submitted
