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Continued from page 10 one night with her mother and had an fight,” Jorge said, “But Tony insisted has long been known as “The Mecca
incident to tell Jorge about. “She had on going through with it.” Retiring of Boxing,” with many of the world’s
Golden Glove titles, but couldn’t been training for a couple of years, as a fighter in August of 2022, Tony best having fought there. It’s a badge
advance.” Several Akwesasne fighters she could handle herself in the ring amassed a professional record of 29- of honour for fighters and trainers to
found success at Champs Eastside, sparring, but never took the next step,” 6, won two North American title belts have either fought or worked a corner
Isaac Benedict won the Canadian Jorge stated. “One night someone and got a shot at the World Lightweight at MSG. Many well-known boxers
Golden Gloves Jr Championship, tried to rape her. She fought back and title in 2016 in Liverpool England. and trainers have never been fortunate
Tevin Terrance won both the New York even though she was getting the worst Ronnie Robideaux, from Akwesasne enough to get that opportunity - Jorge
State and Adirondack Golden Gloves
of it, she got some good shots in, and had four pro fights, winning them Luis has been in a corner at Madison
Championship, and Logan Swamp
the guy took off. She credited boxing all. Larry Fryers, a native of Ireland, Square Gardens on three different
won the Adirondack Golden Gloves
for that, saying that once she started had moved to the Plattsburg NY area. occasions. In 2014 Jorge worked
Novice Division. Ronnie Robidoux
fighting back “It was like being in the Larry had a successful amateur career Brian Clookey’s corner in the opening
was the NY State and Adirondack
ring, she could hear my voice yelling in Ireland, following that up with a fight of the Gennady Golovkin vs
Golden Gloves champion, and he
at her to keep fighting.” Assaulted, few more fights here, then turned pro. Curtis Stevens Middleweight title
also won the prestigious Adidas Cup
but not raped. I’m as proud of her for Larry travelled to Cornwall a couple bout. In 2017 Jorge was in Larry
where he defeated the Canadian
what she did as I am of anything that of times each week to train at Champs, Fryers corner on the annual St. Patrick
Champion in the final. Chad Campeau,
we have accomplished.” with Jorge working the corner in four Day card, where one fighter in each
from Massena, NY, twice won the of his pro fights. Brian Clookey, a bout must be of Irish decent. His last
Adirondack Golden Gloves Light Training professional fighters was former US Marine from Louisville, appearance at MSG was in 2022 when
Heavyweight division. The Covid never in Jorge Luis’s game plan - it NY, also crossed the border to train. Tony fought the undefeated John
pandemic impacted several Champs just happened. During the Canadian “Brian was a Cruiserweight (190 lb.), Bauza, losing a very questionable
fighters. The Waheed siblings, Sahil, Championship final, the Compubox and for a while he trained himself,” decision. For a fifteen-year period
Mubeen, and sister Isha had success computer scoring system went down Jorge recalled. “He had about forty Champs was involved in both pro and
at the Provincials, Sahil had twice in the final round with Tony ahead on amateur fights, twenty-five or so amateur boxing but is now focusing
won Silver Provincially and had taken points at the time. When it came back of those bouts while he was in the solely on the amateur side, with
Gold at the Ontario Games. Mubeen up, Tony was behind on points and Marines. He lived in Louisville and Jorge saying that, “Pro boxing is a
had won the Ontario’s, as did Isha, lost the fight. Rather than wait another had no sparring partners. Brian fought fair sport when the playing field is
who was already Canadian champion. four years for a shot at going to the some of his early pro fights on Bob level and all is equal. Unfortunately,
“Mubeen was a Canadian Champion Olympics, the decision was made to Miller cards without any sparring to that is not the way it is. ‘The lights
in the making,” Jorge said. “Isha was turn pro. “We had an offer on the table prepare. When Bob found out, he sent of Vegas’ are not nearly as bright as
exceptionally strong and she fought from GYM (Groupe Yvon Michel), Brian to us - until then he wasn’t even the promoters make them out to be.
like a little Mike Tyson. She had ‘future a solid promotional company out of aware that there was a boxing gym The majority of fighters do not make
Olympian’ written all over her at the Montreal, and we decided to sign in the area.” Brian Clookey retired in good money, and many good fighters
time.” Many other Champ’s Eastside with them,” Jorge said. Tony had his 2015 with a 7-1-2 record. Joe Bowman, never get a chance at a good payday
boxers have had success at the local first pro fight in May of ‘08 and his one of the original competitors at or a title. The business side of boxing
level including Lane Blanchard, Avery second just two months later, both at Champs, came back from a ten-year is neither fair nor on the level, but a
Gravelle, Doug Porier, Mitch Blais, the Montreal Casino. Maria Luis was hiatus from boxing, took a Silver at meat market. Simply put, fighters are
Shanice King, Adam Villeneuve, at both of those fights. Tragedy then the 2019 Provincials and qualified used as commodities. Every fighter
Brandon Saucier, Laden Phillips, struck the Luis family. On September for the Nationals. Due to family and needs a good trainer, a good manager
Max Bourgon, Neicha Rouleau, and 22, Maria suffered a brain aneurism, work commitments, Joe did not go to that isn’t greedy, and a good lawyer.
Miriam Lalonde. Champs also have passing away the following day. the nationals - he took one pro fight A few fighters are well surrounded,
recreational members who do the Five days after Maria’s funeral, Tony on a Lee Baxter promotion, easily protected, and taken care of - most are
workout and drills but do not compete. climbed back into the ring for his third winning a four-round decision. New not. Professional boxing needs to be
One of those members, a female that pro fight. “Yvon offered to cancel the York City’s Madison Square Gardens
had gone away to university, came in Continued on page 16
