2002 NEWS
December 1, 2002
Larkin Fights Secures Spot at the Nationals
"Gentleman" Jim Larkin became the Ontario Middleweight Champion, defeating Evrol Carty of the Atlas Boxing Club by a 36-22 score. Larkin advanced to the National Boxing Championships where he would meet Canada's best Middleweights including 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Jean Pascal. Joining J.R. at the Nationals was Border City's Coach Josh Canty, who was named to the Provincial Coaching Team for the National Boxing Championships in Laval, Quebec.
November 5, 2002
Border City Coach Wins National Award
Border City's Margaret Sidoroff and Jeannine Garside (center two) with the National Team
Three-time World Boxing Champion Margaret Sidoroff-Canty of the Border City Boxing Club and Family Fitness Centre has won the Coaching Association of Canada's 3M Coaching Canada Award for Coaching in the Female Developmental Category. "It's an honour to be recognized in the coaching community for the success of the Border City Boxers and the National Team, as well as being honoured among such dedicated, hard working coaches," says Canty. Also recognized at the banquet was Daniele Sauvaugeau in the Female High Performance Category. Sauvaugeau is the Head Coach who took Team Canada's Women's Hockey to Gold at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. The 3M Coaching Canada Awards are held yearly to honour coaches for their outstanding contribution to their profession and to athlete development. This year’s three day Sport Leadership 2002 Conference and Award Banquet was held in Montreal on November 2, 2002 at the Renaissance Montreal Hotel. 3M in partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada, honours male and female coaches in both high performance and developmental sport. The four winners each receive a $1000 coach education bursary and the runners-up in each category receive a $500 bursary. Canty is a Level 5 Coach who took the Female National Team to the Witches' Cup in Hungary in August 2002, and also coached the Female National Team at the Inaugural World Championships in Scranton PA in 2001.
October 25-27, 2002 - Border City Competes in Provincials - Six members of the Border City Boxing Club competed in Barrie, Ontario for the 2003 Provincial Championships. The team showed hard work and perseverance pays off. Jeannine "G9" Garside stopped Martine Clement of the Ottawa Beaver Boxing Club to win the Gold medal in the 126 Pound Open Women's Division. "Gentleman" Jim Larkin reputation preceded him at the Provincials this weekend, as Matt Hart of the Loyalist Boxing Club refused to fight the KO Kid. Larkin won by way of walkover and went on to meet, and beat Nicoli Boskovic of the Windsor Amateur Boxing Club. Larkin stopped Boskovic in the second round, and then defeated last year's Provincial Champion, Jamie Phelps of the St. Catharines Boxing Club in the semi-final of the Open Class 165 Pound Division, claiming the Gold medal.
September 15, 2002
Robinson Wins 'Best Boxer' Award
19 year old "Dangerous" David Robinson won the Best Boxer Award, defeating Sudbury's Chris Pollins by a 2-1 decision. 24 year old Alison "The Cat" Hunter also received an award for Best Bout of the evening in a unanimous decision loss to Sudbury's Jamie Lee Pollock. 22 year old "Gentleman" Jim Larkin knocked out Eric Perrier of Sudbury in the second round of their scheduled four-rounder. 17 year old "Gorgeous" Andre Gorges improved to 24-3, stopping Sudbury's Todd Provincial in the third round.
September 2, 2002 - Three Border City Boxers Earn Championship Belts - Seven boxers represented The Border City Boxing Club in the final round of the Ringside National Tournament in Kansas City this weekend. Four time Canadian Champion Jeannine Garside faced Sharon Gaines of Belleville, Washington in the Women's 126 lb. division final. Garside knocked out Gaines in the third round to win The Women's 126 lb. Championship Belt. 12 year old Joshua Cameron defeated Elisa Ochoa of Othello, Washington in the Junior 85 lb. category semi-final on Saturday, moving on to the final where he defeated K.C. Martinez of Humble, Texas by unanimous decision to earn the 85 lb. Championship Belt. Cameron's amateur record now stands at 9-1. 14 year old Lukas Welniak won a unanimous decision over Carlos Williams of St. Louis, Missouri in the semi-final of the Intermediate 139 lb. division. Welniak advanced to the finals where he defeated Juan Figueroa of Longmont, Colorado by unanimous decision earning Welniak the Championship Belt and improving his amateur record to 11-0. Five Border City Boxers also earned Silver Medals in the 2002 Ringside National Championships which involved over one thousand competitors from several countries. 11 year old Justin Girard lost a 2-1 decision to Jerail Singleton of St. Louis, Missouri in the Junior 60 lb. division, earning the silver medal. 18 year old Katie Dunn won a unanimous decision in the semi-final over Katrina Anderson of Atwater, California in the Women's 132 lb division. Dunn advanced to the finals, where she earned the silver medal, losing a unanimous decision to Christie Gervais of St. Jean, Quebec. David Robinson, 18, defeated Brian Gordon of Killeen, Texas in the Men's 147 lb. division semi-final. Robinson then lost a unanimous decision to U.S Champion Tiger Allen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the final earning Robinson the Silver Medal. 22 year old Jim Larkin faced Lamar Harris of St. Louis, Missouri in the finals. Larkin dropped a 2-1 decision, earning the silver medal in the Men's 156 lb. category. Border City also earned two Bronze Medals. Andre Gorges, 17, was eliminated from the competition by a unanimous decision loss to Benjamin Flores of Houston, Texas, who went on to win the 125 lb Men's Championship. Gorges' record fell to 23-3. 2002 Ontario Champion Alison Hunter was eliminated by a 2-1 decision loss to Anju Reejhsinghani of Seattle, Washington in the semi-final of the Women's 119 lb. division.
July 8, 2002
Border City Competes at the Raceways
The Border City Boxing Club had three boxers compete successfully at the Clinton Raceway. 17 year old "Gorgeous" Andre Gorges defeated 20 year old Adam Buckley of the Ring London Boxing Club by a unanimous decision. The win moved Gorges' record to an outstanding 15-1. Also representing Border City was Ahmad "Pokey" Kalakeche who moved to 6-1, defeating Goderich's Doug Bernard by a 2-1 decision. In female action, Border City's Alison "The Cat" Hunter defeated Adanac's Becka Jacobs by decision. Border City hosted the next raceway show at Windsor Raceway on July 16th, 2002. Gorges and Kalakeche were victorious, as were "Gentleman" Jim Larkin, "Dangerous" Dave Robinson, and Jonathan "S.W.C" Wagner.
June 30, 2002 - Border City Hosts Freedom Festival Card - The Border City Boxing Club had five boxers compete at its annual Freedom Festival Card this weekend. Four-time Canadian Champion Jeannine Garside defeated the Wolves Den Boxing Club's Lindsay Squire by a 3-0 decision in the Main Event. Lukas "The Rabbit" Welniak moved his perfect record to 8-0 with a unanimous decision win over Jesse McCully of the Wolves Den Boxing Club. "Gorgeous" Andre Gorges moved to 13-1 with a 3-0 decision over Brandon Doxtator of the Ring London Boxing Club. Kasim "Hollywood" Dobraca moved to 11-1 with a unanimous decision over Kody Doxtator of the Wolves Den Boxing Club.
April 5-7, 2002 - Border City Boxing Club Goes Undefeated - Border City's Kasim "Hollywood" Dobraca led the way this weekend at the 2002 Ray McGibbin's Tournament, winning the Junior 139 lb. title with three wins, first over Sam Lazareu of the Jamestown Boxing Club on Friday, Glen Bradley of the Wolves' Den Boxing Club on Saturday, and finished with style earning a gold medal TKO win over Stephen Franjic of Orangeville's Big Tyme Boxing Club on Sunday. Ahmad "Pokey" Kalakeche defeated Wes Sommerville of Hamilton's Regency Boxing Club for the Senior 139 lb. gold medal by a 13-12 score on Saturday. Jamie "Jack-Hammer" Cameron TKOed Michael McKenna of the St. Catharines Boxing Club for the gold medal in the 126 lb. Junior B category on Saturday. "Jack-knife" Josh Cameron defeated Steven Wilcox of the Regency Boxing Club by a score of 16-9 for the gold medal in the Junior B 81 lb. division on Sunday. Jonathan "S.W.C" Wagner and Justin "Quick" Girard both won gold medals on Walkovers.
A Dynasty in the Making
For the first time since 1986, a Boxing Club has won the Brampton Cup Team Award in consecutive years! 2002 Best Team Award: The Border City Boxing Club!
The Border City Boxing Club successfully defended its 2001 Best Team Award at the annual Brampton Cup Tournament on the weekend capturing 8 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.
Luk Welniak out-pointed Shawn Walker of the Ajax Boxing Club 15-6 for the gold medal in the Junior 139 lb category.
Andre Gorges TKOed Matt Harrison of the Quinte Boxing Club winning the gold medal in the 126 lb. Intermediate division.
Matthew Martin TKOed Stephane Lowes of the Ring London Boxing Club for the gold medal in the Junior 100 lb. division.
Katie Dunn stopped Belleville's Jamie Lee Quigley in the second round for the gold medal in the 132 lb. Intermediate female category.
Kasim Dobraca knocked out Adam Empry of the Quinte Boxing Club for the gold medal in 132 Junior Category, and Josh Cameron lost in his debut in the 75 lb. category to John Melich Jr. from the Champion Boxing Club.
February 24, 2002
Border City Host Legion Show
Justin "Quick" Girard and "Gorgeous" Andre Gorges
Justin Girard defeated Darnell Jordan (Detroit Boxing Club) by UD to win the Bill White Award at a card hosted by Border City the Drouillard Road Legion.
It's lack of faith
that makes people afraid of meeting challenges,
and I believed in myself.
Muhammad Ali