Two Fernie boxers headed to Kelowna on the weekend to get in the ring with some new competition.
Rick Miller took on Ross Walker, a former kickboxer and ‘toughman’ competitor from Nanaimo. The pair went the full three rounds before the judges decided unanimously in favour of Walker. Despite losing the 115 lb weight division match, Miller said he was pleased with how the match went.
“He outlasted me endurance wise, but he was a lot more experienced than me,” he said. “The first round went really well, but then I took a good body shot in the second round. I’m not sure whether it made me hurt or angry but the third round was just about lasting until the end.
“But I felt like the match went awesome – well, as good as fighting can go!”
Miller was expecting to have a rematch against an old opponent, but when he got to Kelowna, he heard the fighter was injured.
“So I was set up against someone new, and also had to wait around because our match was second last,” said Miller.
“I learned a lot. My first two fights have both been against way more experienced fighters but they have taught me about perseverance and where I need to get to.
“As far as losses go, they have been good ones. I haven’t been turned off boxing.”
He said the promoters have been good about pairing him with other fighters that make for a challenging, but not dangerous fight.
Fernie Old School Boxing Club also sent a female boxer to Kelowna for her debut fight.
Anna Michalaska took on Kayleigh Marie from the 100 Mile House Club and had a great match ending with a Technical Knock Out (TKO) called by the referee in the second round, in favour of Marie.
“The girl fighting her was a brawler,” said Miller. “She did really well though and she wanted to keep fighting. It was the ref that called it, not Anna.
“Anna's goal was getting in the ring. So that was a very big win for her, even though she did not win the match.”
The MadKatz boxing club hosted the event at the Rutland Community Hall in Kelowna.
MadKatz head coach, Geoff Lawrence, said he was impressed with the Fernie fighters. "The Fernie Old School made an amazing effort to come out here without an official coach, and they both put great efforts into their fights. I look forward to coming to a match in Fernie and seeing them fight again.”
The Fernie Old School Boxing Club has mixed nights Tuesdays and Thursdays and ladies only on Monday nights.
They will be holding their own fight night in early fall where they hope to have six home-grown fighters on the fight card.