A boxing card years in the making is finally set to take place in Selkirk in five weeks.
Maulers Boxing Club will welcome national team fighters from both Team Canada and Team Mexico for an evening of bouts during its Fight Night V card on Saturday, July 4, at the Selkirk Recreation Complex.
It marks the fifth card in the Fight Night series, which began two years ago and has been held in smaller venues and arenas around the city.
Event organizer and Maulers coach Devin Tomko said fans can expect fireworks at what he is calling the club’s biggest event yet.
“It’s been forever since anything big has come to Selkirk, and that’s really what I wanted to do with this event — just bring something fun for the town,” said Tomko.
“I feel this is a great pastime and a great event to come watch boxing for your first time as well. You’ve got no-headgear fights, high-level international bouts and high-level local fights on top of it. It just makes for a great night in Selkirk.”
The card will feature 15 fights, including 10 international no-headgear bouts, each consisting of three three-minute rounds.
Headlining the card will be Selkirk-based standout Damir Kudusov, representing Team Canada against Team Ontario’s Kamyar Aram in a 145-pound main event. The co-main event will feature Team Canada’s Victor Cheung against Team Mexico’s Jose Gonzalez.
“Mexican fighters always come to fight, so those are going to be great fights, and Team Canada is on a tear right now, so I’m sure the fighters they are sending will put on a great show for us as well,” said Tomko.
Bringing an international card to Selkirk is something Tomko has hoped to do for years. A boxer himself who recently came out of retirement, he spent the past two years primarily coaching Selkirk’s next generation of fighters.
During that time, he maintained connections with boxing friends around the world, including several in Mexico, which helped make Fight Night V possible. He also credited the many volunteers who will be busy transforming the more than 2,500-seat recreation complex into a boxing venue.
“If it wasn’t for them, none of it would be possible,” said Tomko. “It’s just a dream come true, really, bringing these fights to Selkirk. It’s something that I wanted to do once I got into fighting, and bringing a fight to the rec centre is just sweet.”
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.
General admission tickets are available for $20 and can be purchased at Iron Image Barbell Club and Boston Pizza Selkirk.
Main event
Damir Kudusov (Canada) vs. Kamyar Aram (Ontario)
Co-main event
Victor Cheung (Canada) vs. Jose Gonzalez (Mexico)
Aayan Khokhar (Canada) vs. Santiago Montalvo (Mexico)
Yacine Benaoudia (Canada) vs. Christopher Lucas (Mexico)
Kuwardeep Manu (Canada) vs. Hugo Padilla (Mexico)
McKenzie Wright (Canada) vs. Fatima Herrera (Mexico)
Priyanka Dhillon (Canada) vs. Esmeralda Patino (Mexico)
Jerzy Gallinger (Manitoba) vs. Mustafa Zahir (Ontario)
Shauna O’Callaghan (Canada) vs. Nancy Balderas (Mexico)
Liam Koppanyi (Manitoba) vs. Rosh James (Ontario)
Victoria Vergos (Canada) vs. Devany Ramirez (Mexico)
Robyn Grant (Manitoba) vs. Kerowna Hamilton (Alberta)
Rachel Bourdon (Canada) vs. Almendra Gonzalez (Mexico)
Kwaj Jok (Alberta) vs. Patrick Soda (Ontario)
Ben Tibbs (Manitoba) vs. Grayson O’Connor (Ontario)
