Longtime amateur boxing supporter and coach Ralph Robson was front and centre Feb. 22 at the Cloverdale Legion.
During the eighth annual Jim Gallagher Memorial Boxing Show, Robson was awarded the ultimate amateur prize for his years of service to the sport.
During the event鈥檚 intermission, Robson was given the Jim Gallagher Memorial Boxing Award for exemplifying the spirit of amateur boxing.
鈥淚 feel extremely honored to be part of the Jimmy Gallagher legacy,鈥� said Robson. 鈥淗e left a huge footprint on amateur boxing and I鈥檓 proud to have played a small part.鈥�
Robson said he was surprised with the win because he鈥檇 discussed who he thought would be the 2020 winner with the award committee prior to fight night.
鈥淚 should have been suspicious when my wife and family [said they] wanted to attend a boxing match.鈥�
Cloverdale鈥檚 night at the fights was also a resounding success.
Robson, also the fight night organizer, said the Legion was jammed up and fans were treated to a terrific night of boxing.
鈥淎pproximately 300 boisterous boxing fans squeezed into the Cloverdale Legion,鈥� said Robson. 鈥淭here was electricity in the air and it simply felt like this night was going to be special.鈥�
After some last-minute cancellations because of sickness and some training injuries, 12 match-ups made the final fight card.
鈥淭he opening bout set the tone and got the fans into it,鈥� noted Robson. 鈥淚n a very spirited and close bout, Angelo Viloria of South Surrey鈥檚 Mendoza Boxing Club won over Chris Berkely of Victoria鈥檚 University Heights Boxing.鈥�
The second bout was a championship belt fight at the 167-pound elite open division. 91原创 middleweight Brendan Kim of the Port Kells Boxing Club squared off against Dominique Constant of Sooke.
鈥淏rendan was simply too much for Dominique Constant,鈥� explained Robson. 鈥淒ominique (went) down in the second round and the referee stopped the fight in the third.鈥�
In the sixth fight of the night, Nola Howarth, of Queen City Boxing in New Westminster, met Olivia Grimme, of Ocean City Boxing in White Rock, in the 147-pound Jr. C Novice division.
鈥淭he two novices gave it their all,鈥� said Robson, 鈥渨ith the White Rock fighter emerging the victor.鈥�
In the eleventh fight of the night, Edmonton鈥檚 Ethan Pasek outlasted North Vancouver鈥檚 Aaron Madriaga to take the three-round contest in a split-decision win. Robson said the fighters threw haymakers toe-to-toe for all three rounds.
In the main event, Maple Ridge heavyweight Gunnar Andersen faced off against Surrey鈥檚 Sukh Sahota of the Savard Boxing Club.
After a close bout, the fight went to the scorecards and Sahota won in a unanimous decision.
Robson said he is still adding and subtracting dollars and cents for the evening, but he thinks this year鈥檚 Jim Gallagher fight night raised about $6,000 for amateur boxing.
鈥淭hanks to media support and the hard work of many volunteers, our paid attendance was the largest ever,鈥� added Robson.
The Jim Gallagher Memorial Boxing Show has been put on annually since Gallagher, a major champion of amateur boxing in B.C., passed away in 2012. Funds raised at the event help amateur boxers in B.C. pay for their travel costs.
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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