Townsman Staff
For the third year in a row, the Charity Boxing Challenge was a knockout hit in Cranbrook.
Hosted Oct. 24 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, the annual event brought a host of new competitors and veteran sluggers into the ring for a variety of amateur and celebrity bouts.
By the time the night was over, the event had raised more than $30,000 for charitable efforts in Cranbrook.
Event organizers Tom White and fellow Cranbrook Eagles Boxing Club coaches Adam Gareau, Reid Gartside and Bill Watson wished to thank those who generously donated to the success of the popular event.
Opening the night with the amateur bouts featured a pair of 26-kilogram initiation fights, including nine-year-old Alexa Hansen of Cranbrook taking on Rumour McGregor of Quesnel, B.C., and nine-year-old Aedin Gareau of Cranbrook scrapping with Emmett Emblau, also of Quesnel.
The pair of Cranbrook Eagles boxers dominated the action, though all four competitors were crowned winners, as is the rule for boxers 10-and-under.
The bout between Gareau and Emblau was recognized as the Best Bout of the Night.
On the heels of the initiation bouts, Cranbrook's Carter Bannink used his superior skills and experience to stop Jeremiah Warnke (Medicine Hat, Alta.) in the second round of their 32-kg tilt.
After a year away from the ring, 'Dynamite' Dylan Clark returned to action in the 52-kg division, showing very little rust as he battle to a unanimous decision over Paige Suchit of Edmonton, Alta.
Wrapping up the set of amateur bouts was a 75-kg tilt between 'The Comeback Kid' Ryan Lindsay (Cranbrook Eagles) and Brendan Donald of Calgary.
Lindsay punished Donald with hooks to the body through three rounds, earning himself a hard-fought unanimous decision.
The second half of the night featured local tough guys and gals as the celebrity bouts swung hard in an effort to raise money for less fortunate families in the area.
Steve Mercandelli, Randy Rothwell, Stacey Kormilo, Lori Johansan, Patrick Sands, Dan Green, Taylor Quinton, Curt Hargreaves, Sandi Duthie, Ali Anderson, Josh Kapitiniuk, Dacan Duthie and Edyn Barber participated in the local celebrity side of the evening, slugging it out and striking hard to earn a unanimous decision in support of charity.