The Sunshine Coast has a new boxing champion.
David Nygren became the provincial heavyweight champion in the senior novice division after an 8-4 decision over Pemberton's Alex Campbell at the provincial championships in Surrey on Sunday, Nov. 7.
After two rounds, Campbell led 4-3 by using a mauling, brawling style to negate the long reach of the rangy Nygren.
On the instruction of coach Ben Smith, Nygren kept his distance from Campbell in the final round, which allowed him to land five big right hands to steal the fight from Campbell.
Elated at becoming champion, Nygren thanked his coaches Todd Alain and Smith for all the effort and time they have put in to preparing him for the championships.
This title accompanies his previous Golden Gloves win in his trophy collection.
Of note were the two-dozen Gibsons' residents who travelled to Surrey to watch him box. The loud encouragement from his supporters from Gibsons made Nygren feel like he was boxing at home, said club founder Rick Shannon.
Another Gibsons' presence at the provincials was former Gibsons' resident James Wilson boxing out of the Island Boxing Club in Victoria.
Wilson took his best shot at winning the open class title in the open category, which would have earned him a place on team B.C. at the upcoming National Championships in St. Hyacinth Que.
The hard-fighting Wilson won a 7-3 decision over a North Vancouver boxer Saturday evening to gain a berth in Sunday's final where he lost a close decision to Ryan Stewart of Kelowna's Thistle Town Boxing Club in the 152-pound division.
Shannon said he was encouraged by the weekend's results and the recent growth of amateur boxing in B.C.
"There were 16 bouts Sat-urday night and 19 Sunday afternoon. A few years ago there may have been a dozen for the whole tournament, so this is positive for amateur boxing," Shannon said. "Our club would like to host a boxing event in Gibsons in the spring, and the recent positive results for David and Randy Hollett as well as the development of our other boxers could make this possible."
Shannon said the Sunshine Coast Boxing Club is Boxing B.C./Boxing Canada insured and a member club that trains Monday to Thursday evening at the gym located at 1010 Chamberlin Rd.
Contact Shannon at 604-886-0928 for more information.
