The Sunshine Coast Boxing Club helped put on a show to raise money for a good cause on April 2 at the A4K (Athletics For Kids) boxing dinner show fundraiser in North Vancouver.
The annual event features a dinner with auctions of sporting memorabilia, appearances by Vancouver celebrities and four amateur boxing matches.
Two Coast fighters, George Vourtisis in the 152-pound weight class and his brother-in-law Nik Stevenson in the 218-pound weight class, were invited to box at this prestigious event.
First up was Vourtisis against Phil Chang from the Vancouver Contenders Boxing Club.
Vourtisis calmly and effectively stalked and pressured the rangy Chang, who was trying to keep his distance and score safely from a distance he was comfortable with. Vourtisis, a short, aggressive welterweight fighter, slipped, blocked and countered Chang's punches as he pressured him. Chang did well in the first round, but halfway through the second round, Vourtisis found his range and was landing heavy punches.
The third round proved to be more of the same until the referee stopped the fight halfway through the round to save the dazed and bloodied Chang from anymore punishment.
This was a good win for Vourtisis as the previous Saturday in Mission he had dropped an 11-10 points decision to a Surrey fighter.
In the main event, 20-year-old Stevenson fought a rematch against 42-year-old Denis Musto representing the Griffins Boxing Club from North Vancouver.
In February, Stevenson won a decision over Musto by one point, but the rematch wasn't even close.
Musto was given a good game plan by his handlers, which was to keep Stevenson at bay with a long southpaw jab followed by heavy straight left hands. But Stevenson was equally well prepared and kept his hands up and bobbed and weaved while attacking Musto, so he could land many heavy punches, bloodying Musto in the third round.
"Stevenson is a real comer in the amateurs because he works hard at his boxing and is a smart guy and picks up boxing skills quickly," said coach Rick Shannon. "During the bout he followed his corner man Ben Smith's instructions and won a unanimous decision."
Once again, a raucouscontingent of Sunshine Coast Boxing Club supporters made the trip to loudly cheer on their boxers. The winning boxers were presented with beautiful championship belts to remember this great experience.
On the calendar for the Sunshine Coast boxers later in Aprilis the Golden Gloves in Richmond and a club show in North Vancouver.
