Canadian National Seniors Championship

by "Uncle" Floyd W. Porter

2006-01-11

The Canadian National Seniors Championship was held in St. Catherines Ontario this year. This was great news for local boxer Glenn Hunter 81kg of the St Catherines Boxing Club. The tournament was a four day event from Thursday the 5th of January to Sunday the 8th. 2006. There were six shows put on over those fours days with over a seventy bouts in total all biding to become Canadian National Champion. Every boxers dream, every coaches wish. Joe Corrigan was the master of ceremony and put on a show second to none giving each champion an actual Championship Belt........class act. Everything you could be looking for in a boxer was there. Male and female, young and old. Boxers from 100 pounds to one coming in from Quebec at 6"9" and everything in between.

Glenn Hunter was still the talk of the town when I arrived Sunday morning. I love boxing people, they will talk to you and tell you about a bout as if you weren't there even if you were sitting right beside them during the entire fight. The excitement is that intense. Glenn Hunter had one bout to win to become Canadian Champion. He was in his hometown, the favorite son, and they came out to support their local boy. There was approximately five hundred in all and he didn't disappoint them. The opponent, Alexandre Hamel of Quebec, was ahead on points and was outboxing Ontario's Glenn Hunter. Hunter decided to take matters into his own hands and knocked Hamel out cold in the third round. The crowd noise was deafening, Glenn was "local hero makes good" Canadian Champion!

Isho Shiba 54kg of the McGrory's Boxing Club risen to the occasion. He may just of had the upset of the tournament in defeating Tyson Cave of Nova Scotia. Cave was current Canadian Champion and very experienced in international competition. If you talk to Isho Shiba he knew exactly what he was doing, in his mind the only one upset was Tyson Cave.

World Champion Mary Spencer 66kg of the Windsor Amateur Boxing Club was in there doing her thing. Two bouts, two wins, one stoppage. Just another day. Mary is only twenty years old and hasn't come close to reaching her full potential says Olympic Coach Charlie Stewart. She's like the girl next door, friendly and considerate. Not what you would picture a boxer to be or look but put her in a ring and the transformation that takes place is like Jekyll and Hyde. Stewart also had former Olympian Adam Trupish in there defending and winning his 69kg division. Trupish will be Canadian Champion for as long as he wants it in my humble opinion.

Katie Dunn 63kg of The Border City Boxing Club was walking around proudly supporting her shiner. Dunn handed Isabelle Beauilleu, also of Ontario, a defeat to earn her second straight Canadian Championship. They call her Katie "Silent" Dunn. She lets her hands do the talking.

Ryan Ranelli 51kg and Jonathon Bochner 64kg also won in their divisions but unfortunately I was unable to speak to them. I know Jonathon and was happy for his accomplishments he's a fine young man.

Jill Perry 57kg and coach Joe Sandulo are an interesting pair. The odd couple they are not. They look more like Grandpa and Grand-daughter. They just look like they were meant to be together happily developing their craft. Jill Perry again won her division making her a two time Canadian Champion but there is a twist. Jill is over 34 years of age and under the rules of the Olympic Committee is unable to represent her country in tournaments. It's quite in depth but basically she is the very best we have in Canada at her weight class but is not eligible to represent her country so the second place competitor is our representative. There are certain bouts that she can fight for Canada but not tournaments that have more than one country entered. Some day I hope to write an article on this subject to better explain the current policy. It is also my understanding that Jill is the oldest boxer to ever win the National Title and funny enough her coach, Joe Sandulo, is the oldest register coach. It's said that a picture can say a thousand words, well for boxers and coaches I believe this picture says it all.

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