Page 8 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 123

8 Issue #123 April 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

Steve Malyon
sales rep
613-314-4161
• Furnaces
• Fireplaces

• Water heaters • Patio heaters

• Construction heaters • BBQs
• Forced air heaters • Infrared

• Boilers
commercial heaters
5720 Power Dam Drive, Cornwall • 613-938-9622
Continued from page 5 in some electrical cords that he had had some “exhibition” fights which take the next step. “If I was going to
cut to length, wrapping the ends with don’t show on the record, and a few do this, I wanted to do it right,” Jorge
spring of 1977, leaving Cornwall electrical tape which the boxers used times he fought twice in one night. said. “I had watched Dave Hilton and
without a boxing club until 1979 for several months. Eventually they “That happened in Malone and in other trainers and gathered as much
when the city started a club at the old found a place in Montreal that sold Massena - in those days you could get information as I could.” Some of
Kinsman Center. Jorge was one of the boxing gear, with Jorge saying, “The away with that - now every fight has the kids at the gym were starting to
ten original members that signed up skipping ropes were leather with to be official,” Jorge said. show promise and began to ask about
the first night. Al McGillis, a former wooden handles that had ball bearings competing, so the next step was to
Toronto policeman who had had a few inside, we would soak the leather in In May of 1983 Jorge was in a get the club registered with Boxing
amateur fights, ran it, and a few older oil to preserve it, then let it dry in motorcycle accident, shattering his Ontario. “I went and took the Level
local boxers like Gerry Blanchard and the sun, then spray the ball bearings ankle, which required a plate, pins, One course in 1999, then got the club
Art Gagne helped out as well. The club so it would be faster.” Jorge had his and screws to repair. By the time registered. I wanted to get a second
had no equipment and in those days first amateur fight in Malone, NY, in he recovered from the accident, the opinion on our kids, so I reached out
none of the local stores carried hand late 1979 and in the next three years boxing club had closed. Finding to Colin McPhail at the Kingston club,
wraps or decent skipping ropes. The compiled an official amateur record of that staying active was best for and he was very receptive to helping
janitor at the Kinsman Center brought sixteen wins and three losses. He also his ankle, Jorge began karate with us. I took Tony and Joey Bowman up
Yvon Plante in 1989, later training to spar with some of Colin’s kids and
at Steven Daye Karate. In the ten get his opinion. Colin told me to keep

years that he was involved in Karate
Jorge earned a Nidan (2nd degree doing whatever it was that I was doing
saying, “these kids can fight.” I liked
Blackbelt) and competed in many full
contact tournaments. Asked about the how they did things at their gym,
tournaments Jorge replied, “I won someone would lead the workout,

every full contact tournament that I Colin would work in the ring doing

entered, and I give full credit to boxing the mitts and supervising sparring,

for that. The footwork from boxing, and his brother Kenny would walk

the different arsenal and range of the floor and watch the heavy bags
punches gave me a big advantage, and and drills. I have become good friends
having a good left hook to the body with both Kenny and Colin over the
St. Lawrence Orthopaedic Service Ltd. didn’t hurt either. I wouldn’t trade years.”
the ten years that I spent in karate for A considerable amount of the
Lorraine S. Benoit Offi ce Manager anything. I have many great memories knowledge that Jorge has gained has
Lorraine S. Benoit, Offi ce Manager

Certified Fitter of Compression Stockings April
is Cancer from those years, and I made many come from attending the International
Margaret Dupee C.P.O. (c) Christopher Kraft C.P.O. (c)
Custom Fit Brassieres • Free Services Every Thursday Awareness good friends.” Boxing Hall of Fame ceremonies
Month
Custom Orthotic & Prosthetic Devices for over 50 years! each June in Canastota, NY, just a
812 Pitt Street, Unit 32, CORNWALL • 613-933-1064 • stlawrenceorthopaedic@cogeco.net In 1997 the owner of Paradise few minutes east of Syracuse. There

Fitness, Dan Champagne, approached Jorge met, talked with, and learned
Jorge about opening a recreational

boxing program at his facility. It was from, many of the best trainers in

professional boxing. During one of
only 2 nights per week in the beginning the HOF weekends Jorge participated

as Jorge didn’t have the time to in a seminar conducted by Emanuel
ABLOY
commit to a competitive program. By Stewart of the Kronk Gym in Detroit.
Dealer
1999 some of the kids were starting Stewart had trained several world
to develop and show promise. Joey
Bowman, Brandon Saucier, and Tony champions including Thomas Hearns.

Continued on page 10
Luis ( Jorge’s son), were all ready to