An exciting night of boxing was had by all Saturday night at the Griffins Boxing Club in North Vancouver.
The Peachland Amateur Boxing Club was well represented as Izzy Holt, 15, of Penticton and Eric Hahn-Hill, 13, of Summerland put the gloves on in the big city. An intimidation prospect for any young boxer.
Holt had a remarkable re-match against Griffins own Ram Alexiev who had hopes of scoring on home turf.
Holt and Alexiev first met in Peachland when the club sponsored a sell-out visit by boxing icon and world boxing hall of fame member, George Chuvalo in his Fight Against Drugs campaign.
“Professional clubs like Vancouver’s Griffin Boxing Club are run as a business, and do not like losing matches, particularly to little upstart clubs like Peachland,” said coach John Wardley. “They prefer to see their amateur boxers win unanimously as it is good for their business.”
Vancouver’s re-match had Holt display discipline and timing, landing many well placed punches to beat Alexiev in a unanimous decision.
Holt won every round unanimously according to the ringside judges computer scoring.
Hahn-Hill, in a close match, gave his opponent Austin Riggs of Thistle town Boxing Club in Kelowna a match Riggs might rather forget.
Hahn-Hill, clearly the aggressor throughout, unloaded many hard and fast punches.
When the verdict was announced many in the crowd disagreed with the judges’ decision of Hahn-Hill losing by a close decision.
Not surprising, Hahn-Hill is keen on a rematch which may well take place in Vernon, March 12.
Club coach Wardley and Peter Holt are hoping to have a possible seven to nine young pugilists ready for the June BC Bronze Gloves tournament in June. This year the competition will be being held on Vancouver Island.