The Sunshine Coast Boxing Club’s Angela Cantarutti won a hard-fought split decision over Terris Smith of Victoria in a sanctioned featherweight bout Saturday, Feb. 27 at Vancouver’s Eastside Boxing Club.
At the opening bell Smith stormed out, raining heavy blows to the surprised Cantarutti’s head. Given a standing eight count by referee Dale Walters, Angela could have folded at that time, but instead summoned the courage to battle back against her bigger opponent. Smith charged back at Cantarutti, who met her with volleys of her own punches. By the end of the first round, the undefeated Smith knew she was in a fight.
In the second round, Cantarutti kept the pressure on Smith, negating her reach advantages with flurries of punches and often forcing Smith to clinch. Smith did land her share of solid punches that bloodied Cantarutti’s nose.
Between rounds as cornerman Randy Hollett tended to her, Cantarutti was composed, benefiting from her experience as a competitive soccer player.
The third round was Cantarutti’s best as she outworked the now tiring Smith, driving her to the ropes on a number of occasions. The spent Smith was checked out by the fight doctor in her corner while Cantarutti enjoyed the energy of her first competitive boxing match.
Referee Dale Walters, Burnaby’s 1984 Olympic boxing medalist, called the boxers to ring centre and raised Cantarutti’s hand when the decision was announced.
Cantarutti is looking forward to boxing in Gibsons April 9 when the Sunshine Coast Boxing Club hosts its “War on the Shore 4” amateur boxing event at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
Club founder Rick Shannon remarked: “Angela earned this victory with her dedication to training and learning boxing. It was no accident that she won this fight – she put in the work and has a competitor’s heart.”
For information regarding the Sunshine Coast Boxing Club, located in Andy’s Plaza in Gibsons, contact Randy Hollett at 604-989-5180.
