War on the Shore 4 goes ahead on April 9, despite losing KO’d boxer Ari Ashari.
Originally a fight for the B.C. 160-pound middleweight title between Sunshine Coast Boxing Club’s (SCBC) George Vourtsis and Vancouver’s Ashari, the title bout was cancelled after Ashari was knocked out in a fight on April 1. A knockout means an automatic 30-day suspension for boxers.
“It’s disappointing, it was supposed to be for the 160-pound B.C. title – so we’re not going to be fighting for that,” Vourtsis said.
Luckily, Eastside Boxing Club’s Michael Kechichian – originally from Quebec – stepped in to take on Vourtsis this Saturday.
“Kechichian is a wiry-built kind of guy – real stiff punching guy – and he’s not a finesse boxer, he’s a solid guy and he’s tough,” SCBC founder Rick Shannon said. “Looks like a pretty good banger, which will make for an exciting fight with Vourtsis because he’s a big punching guy, too – kind of like the old Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano type guys – in your face firing bombs all the time.”
Vourtsis said although he was looking forward to fighting for the 160-pound title, the new opponent doesn’t change his strategy too much.
“I’ve got to still think of it as a fight and go in there and do what I trained for,” Vourtsis said. “Don’t underestimate anyone, because you never know. You might think the guy’s not tough, but he might be tougher than the guy I was about to fight. You never know.”
Vourtsis is a veteran boxer who’s won titles in City, Bronze, A4K and Golden Gloves as well as the Western Canadian Championship. He was also the 2013 Canadian silver medalist.
After hearing that Ashari was knocked out, organizers tried to book the boxer who KO’d him – only to find out that he had hurt his hand in the fight.
“We’re very fortunate that Kechichian was available and that he’s training,” Shannon said. “I’ve seen the guy spar before, he’s a good boxer. He came in the last year from Quebec, he had about nine or 10 fights out there – so he can take care of himself.”
The five-round bout is Saturday, April 9 at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre. Also on the card, Beau Smith of Gibsons – 15 years old and the 2015 WBC Canada sliver medalist in the youth category – will box Kamloops 15-year-old Nick Buttowski at 140 lbs.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the fighting starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.
