Page 46 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 85

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Issue #85 December 2019
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46 Issue #85 December 2019 www.sportsenergynews.com.com

2019 The Year in Review

first approached the City of Cornwall their neighbours and teachers. These former heavy weight champions in
about setting up a non-profit, kids won’t be jacking your car or attendance, Michael Spinks, Ray
volunteer-based Boxing Club at the stereo or breaking into your house. Mercer, Gerry Cooney and Larry
old library building, this is what I Holmes. With an amateur card of six
Maybe the City of Cornwall will
By Jorge Luis found. The building was being used to choose to shut us down in a few bouts, which featured four Canadian
store tables and chairs. The building Champs and two N.Y. state Golden
years down the road. With marijuana
had been empty for five years. It was legal and other drugs flooding the Gloves champions. It certainly was a
being heated so the pipes would not market, the park would be a good night to remember, an unforgettable
freeze. The sidewalk and walkway in evening, and has become the envy of
place to hang out, drink, frug, smoke,
front of the club were always littered party and deal drugs. What would the club show circuit in Ontario and
with garbage and broken glass. On Quebec. Who says Cornwall is only
t’s that time of year, with Christmas be preferable? A boxing Club or the
Friday nights and Saturdays, it was a hockey? Cornwall produces many
Isoon upon us. A time to reflect, to alternative?
learn from our experiences and grow, party spot for drinking and carousing. fine athletes and has many hard-
Sometimes there would be four or For good news, we had a very working coaches to help our young
and a time to count our blessings.
five cars parked on the grass in front successful year. We had our first people.
2019 was a very blessed year for of the building and at the side of the female Canadian boxing champion
Champs Eastside Boxing; also a year building. in Isha Waheed, 16 and under female Cornwall’s Champs Boxing
filled with its share of drama. lightweight champion, and was also flagship fighter, Tony Luis won three
Drug deals were a regular named junior athlete of the year. bouts this year. A special standout is
After many years of operation at occurrence. I don’t recall ever a the June bout with Adrian Estrella,
223 Jarvis St. at St. Josephs Park, complaint then. I don’t recall ever Her brother, Sahal, won bronze a world class contender. Tony
we seemed to get a lot of complaints a policeman coming by except when in the 18 and under lightweight. failed to make weight, and thus was
from a couple of neighbours on the we called them. Gradually after Brother Mubeen, who did not not awarded the WBC American
street. We got complaints about the we moved in and the program got qualify for Nationals, but won all Lightweight belt. It was my call not
young boxers jogging on the street. rolling, and a few confrontations and his club matches except for one this to drain Tony further. We took full
We also got complaints about the a couple of calls to our local police, year. Along the way he defeated responsibility. In fact, Estrella was
boxers and members jogging on the the park cleaned up. Where rarely we two Ontario Champions and one overweight also but we took the brunt
sidewalk around the block. I offer saw kids playing in the park, now we Canadian Champion. Expect more of of it. No regrets. Health and safety
my apologies to the 2 -3 dissident see young kids and young parents this in the coming year from Mubeen, first. Tony defeated a good fighter in
neighbours. But I rather see our playing in St Josephs Park. Those are who has been a sleeper and had some a good fight and emerged victorious.
young people exercising and using facts. bad breaks. Mubeen won gold at the No slouches for Tony.
our sidewalks and streets in a positive Ontario Silver Gloves.
At Champs Eastside, hundreds of In October, Tony boxed
way, rather than walking the streets Also joining the ranks of Champs
up to no good. young people have passed through this year, formerly from St John NB, Peterborough and won a decision on a
our door. We like to think we made are the Kyslenko brothers. Bohden bout which was featured on UFC fight
We also got complaints from the a difference in some young people’s pass. Tony has always represented
same couple of neighbours that we lives and older people as well. I and Vladimir. Both did well at the himself, his club, and Cornwall with
take up too much parking on the think it’s preferable to have a boxing Silver Gloves, Bohden winning honour, pride and respect. One day
street. At times some club members club where kids work hard and go gold at 57kg open 15 -16 yr old and he will be more appreciated for the
did make honest mistakes and parked home tired, where young people are Vladimir losing a close hard-fought memories and accomplishments he
on the wrong side of the street. We told to respect their parents, do well bout to garner silver. has achieved.
always advise them and tell our in school or no boxing, where young In June we helped stage a great
members where to park. But in people are lovingly coached on their event for the Childrens Treatment Merry Christmas
hindsight, back in 1999-2000 when I jobs and books, and taught to respect Centre. As guests, we had four & Happy New Year Boxing Fans

The Ghost Walk for Charity

By David Murphy “Our committee is already looking
forward to planning for next year’s
Ghost Walk,” continued Turcotte.
Baldwin House, Big Brothers Big
“We’d like to thank our sponsors,
Sisters and Habitat for Humanity
volunteers and of course everyone
were each presented with a cheque for
who enjoyed this year’s Ghost Walk.”
$8,000 from the 2019 Ghost Walk For
Charity. Thousands of people made their
The cheque presentations were way through the Ghost Walk this year
made at the location of this year’s with some coming from Montreal,
Ghost Walk, 1400 Vincent Massey Ottawa, Kingston and Belleville.
Drive. The event has grown each year
“The Ghost Walk continues to with $15,000 going to three local
charities in 2017 and $16,500 to three
grow each year,” said Ghost Walk
non-profit groups in 2018 and $24,000
Committee Chairman Mike Turcotte.
for 2019
“Because of the community’s support,
For further information please
we’ve been able to donate over
$55,000 to local charities over the contact Mike Turcotte at 613-930-6511 Ghost Walk For Charity Donates $24,000 To Three Local Groups
past three years.” or info@thefootclinic.ca.
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