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Boxers compete at Nationals

Sunshine Coast Boxing Club (SCBC) athletes Marcus Davies and Angela Cantarutti accompanied by their coach Tariq Abdulrahman boxed as members of Team BC at the 2019 Super Channel Canadian Boxing Championships held at the Bear Mountain Resort Community
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Gibsons Angela Cantarutti, head coach and Lift Conditioning Centre owner Tariq Abdulrahman, and Sechelt’s Marcus Davies.

Sunshine Coast Boxing Club (SCBC) athletes Marcus Davies and Angela Cantarutti accompanied by their coach Tariq Abdulrahman boxed as members of Team BC at the 2019 Super Channel Canadian Boxing Championships held at the Bear Mountain Resort Community near Victoria, April 23 to 27. 

The evening boxing session April 23 saw SCBC 75 kg boxer Marcus Davies matched with Emile Smith representing the province of Saskatchewan.

In the fight Smith got off to a good start but by round two Davies found his punching distance and dominated the rest of the fight to win a unanimous decision, making Davies the first Coast boxer to win a fight at the Nationals since Tony Duffy in the ‘80s.

The next day Cantarutti was the first ever female Coast boxer in the ring at the Nationals, having drawn Ontario champion Serena Nahmabin in the 54 kg division.

After a close bout boxed at a high skill level, the Ontario boxer was given a split decision. This bout was a step up in the level of competition for Cantarutti. This experience of being involved at Canada’s highest level of amateur boxing and her solid ring performance have established her as one of the bright prospects in Canadian women’s boxing. Cantarutti’s opponent Nahmabin won silver at the Nationals.

Later the same day Davies, who had advanced in the National tournament due to his previous day’s victory, drew Ontario’s Tristan Brooks. With the daunting task of boxing the two-time Canadian champion who has represented Canada at international competition before him, Davies – in only his 14th fight – bit down on his mouth guard and fought his heart out against his head-taller opponent.

On this day the size, skill and experience of Brooks prevailed, with the referee stepping in to stop the bout late in the second round. While disappointed with the stop, Davies soon accepted that the referee was protecting him in his first match against an international level boxer. Brooks went on to win the gold medal at the Nationals.

Lift Conditioning Centre located in Wilson Creek has been the SCBC’s home since last fall and a huge thank you must go out to owner and head coach Tariq Abdulrahman for all of his time and dedication to train and manage Davies and Cantarutti to the National level. 

On the calendar for the Sunshine Coast Boxing Club is War On The Shore 6 to be held June 1 at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.

It should be noted that six boxers who have boxed in Gibsons at previous War On The Shore events boxed at this year’s Nationals, four of whom are bronze or silver medalists – a testament of the quality of boxers who have entertained boxing fans in Gibsons. War On The Shore 6 event and ticketing information will be released soon. 

– Submitted