Page 10 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 81

10 Issue #81 August 2019 www.sportsenergynews.com

Olympic heavyweight gold Dave MacLean, takes a lot of Canada. Tony Luis defeated
medal champ and also former guts to get in the ring under Adrian Estrella on a split 2-1
WBO heavyweight champ Ray the hot lights and throw down. decision. It was a fast paced,
Mercer. What an honour! Congrats boys, your bout drew hard hitting close bout, but I
By Jorge Luis
Champs hosted an afternoon the loudest cheers. Thank you thought Tony edged Estrella in
workout, the four former champs for the sponsors you attracted most rounds. At the end of 10

came out to watch Tony Luis and helping a great cause. rounds Tony won but was not
spar and do some pad work with Next, June 21st in Cornwall given the WBC Continental
Americas belt. Tony failed to
me. What an honour! The civic the civic complex, Tony Luis
make the 135 lb limit the day
ello fight fans. I been complex hosted a record best challenged top 20 contender
Hquiet in this column the ever crowd for the fundraiser and WBC continental Americas’ before the fight at the official
weigh in. Tony’s dehydrated
last few months simply because and broke all records for money champ Adrian Estrella who had
body was not giving up another
I have been very busy. First raised in such an event. The 6 defeated hot prospect Oscar
ounce and I made the call to
off June 1st Cornwall was bout amateur card featured no Duarte, a protégé of Golden
forfeit the belt. Both champs
host to ‘Fight for Change’, less than 4 Canadian champions Boy Oscar de La Hoya. Adrian
to benefit the Children’s 1 New England Golden Gloves Estrella is an excellent boxer, a agreed to go ahead with the
bout. Both Tony and myself
Treatment Center, Beyond 21, champ and 1 NY city Golden world class boxer. In addition the
have taken a lot of heat from
and of course Champs Eastside gloves champ. The skill level card featured 3 boxers that Tony
fans. We are sorry to disappoint
Boxing Club. It was a unique was very high quality to say the Luis had previously defeated.
but I believe I made the right
and fantastic event, the likes least. Again I could not believe Tough guys all. Understand
of never seen in Cornwall that when I began this journey this; the Ontario Boxing call. I put Tony’s health and
before. The special guests were 2 decades ago that I would one commission is the strictest safety first. Tony’s body has
matured and 135 is proving to
former #1 contender Gerry day rub shoulders with Hall of boxing commission in Canada.
be too difficult to make. Tony
Cooney, former heavyweight Famers like Homes, Spinks, They do not sanction easy bouts
needed to rehydrate, recover
champ Larry Holmes, former Cooney, and Mercer. Here in and show no favouritism in
Olympic gold medalist (’76) my hometown Cornwall. It their decisions rendered after and energize for 10 hard rounds
the next day. Imagine if your
Mike Spinks, and first light was truly an electrical and the bouts. The card featured
son plays hockey or soccer but
heavyweight to win the heavy memorable evening. Many great evenly matched bouts with
weight title and former 1988 thanks to Dave Murphy and boxers from Mexico, USA, and Continued on page 11

Steve Ostler presents “Good Call Ref” Brought to you by Scores
Athlete of the Month

Gerry Edward Samson
Cornwall native Gerry Edward Samson has a wealth of Brayden Carr

officiating experience in particular and sporting experience
generally. Some of his career highlights include 25 years

as an ODHA referee, 10 years as an official with the JOC Grade: 5
broomball league, and 5 years as a ref with the Ontario Age: 9
Lacrosse Association. In 1976, he attended referee school in
Barrie under NHL great Bill Friday. School: Our Lady of Good Counsel
“I started as a hockey referee at the age of 13 years, at the Home Town: Long Sault
prompting of my uncle, the great Eddie Emerton, President of
the Minor Hockey Association,” says Samson. “I started with Cornwall River Rats’ second baseman
Camille Henry, Wally ‘Chief’ Garland, Carm MacMillan, Brayden Car is August’s Athlete of the
Aimé LeBlanc, Jim Burke, and the Richer Brothers.” Month. The River Rats u10 baseball
During his 25 years with the Ottawa District Hockey Association, he worked all the minor
hockey divisions including junior B. “I refereed in Rockland, and I was a linesman in the club will be heading to Orleans for the
senior leagues of Morrisburg, Cardinal, and Long Sault,” he says. Little League provincial championships.

Samson’s biggest thrill as an official was to referee an exhibition game in Barrie, Ontario, in “Brayden is a big hitter and a big catcher,”
which Brian Engblom of the Montreal Canadiens played. “I also was a referee at St. Lawrence says River Rats’ assistant coach Travis
College where Cornwall Royals’ Bill Snelgrove played,” he says. He has other associations
with Cornwall’s beloved team. “I was statistician with Cornwall Royals, and travelled with Cox. At school, Brayden is a big fan of
team to Halifax,” he explains. “I was a timekeeper for Royals, too.” gym class. When ball season ends and winter approaches, Braden plays

Samson has also invested a lot of time in coaching local sports. He won five championships
coaching minor baseball at the Joe St. Denis field, and he coached Kastner’s Junior B Hockey hockey for the South Stormont Selects.

with the likes of Punch Appleton and Si Miller. Brayden’s favourite part of playing ball is batting.

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