Local boxers got the chance to shine in their own backyard at the 2017 Boxing BC Provincials last weekend at the Quality Hotel Conference Centre in Abbotsford.
The event drew hundreds, and featured some of the best young boxers in the province duking it out for a potential spot in the Nationals.
Abbotsford-Mission Boxing Club (AMBC) head coach Dale Gatin said the event was a big success, and he was proud of the way local boxers competed against the best in BC.
Saturday's main event saw Bryan Colwell from Sooke defeat Sumas Mountain Boxing Club's Thomas Kippes in a unanimous decision after three rounds in the 91 kilogram Elite Open Male final.
AMBC athlete Carson Dyck also competed against Connor Hollingshead from Maple Ridge in an exhibition bout in the 75 kg Junior C Open Male division.
Dyck and Kippes earned silver and gold medals in their divisions, and both local boxer will represent B.C. at the Canadian National Champions in Quebec City in April.
Other winners from Saturday included: Thistletown Boxing Club's Clive Fagan (75 kg Elite Novice Male); Ivy Richardson from the Nanaimo Boxing Club (60 kg Elite Novice Female); Bryan Adkins from the Lion's Roar Boxing Club (64 kg Elite Novice Male); Queensborough Boxing Club's Julian Kim (81 kg Elite Open Male); Jag Seehra from the Inner City Boxing Club (64 kg Elite Open Male); and Robert Couzens from QBC (69 kg Elite Open Male).
Mission's Brennen MacBlain fought on Friday, losing in a three-round split decision to Mike Basran from Kamloops. Gatin said that he wasn't able to find a fight for MacBlain in his weight class, and the local fighter performed well against a bigger opponent.
"Brennen used his speed and excellent foot work, which made it very difficult Mike Basran," he said. "This was a highly competitive boxing match, but unfortunately Brennen lost a razor thin split decision. The crowd did not agree with the decision."
Dyck also fought on Friday, losing to Quesnel's Olin Lee in an exhibition bout. Gatin said the match was a good experience for the younger Dyck.
"The reason we took this fight was for experience for Carson," he said, noting that Olin is a year and a half older and is a two-time National silver medallist. "As a coach, you're always trying to improve your boxers and one of the ways you can do this is to take fights that are challenging. The coaching staff is very proud of Carson. Without a doubt, this was Carson's best fight, against such a high-level opponent."
The AMBC's Aarmen Dhillon also fought on Friday, competing in an exhibition bout in the Junior B division.
Other winners from Friday included: Sooke's Jill Doucet (Junior A girls); Maple Ridge's William Kilsby (Junior A boys); Alessandro Singson from QBC (Elite men); QBC's Tyler Chambers (Elite men); and Robert Couzins from QBC (Elite men).
For more on the event, visit boxing.bc.ca.