It's make or break time for Prince George boxer Jag Seehra.
The 21-year-old Inner City Boxing Club lightweight and his clubmate Kenny Lally boarded a plane Friday for Ottawa, where they'll be stationed the next three days to train for the final team selection boxoffs later next week in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
Seehra is a contender for a spot on the national B team in the 60 kilogram class, and one of the fighters he will be up against is the 60kg national champion -- Ayaz Hussain on Montreal. Hussain defeated Seehra with a 6-3 decision in the gold-medal match at the senior national championships a month ago in Quebec City.
The rematch will likely happen in the first round of the boxoffs. Seehra will also come up against national A-team member Alex Rynn of Calgary, Ron Markov of Ontario and Cam O'Connell of Red Deer.
Inner City coach Bob Pegues is advising Seehra to come out more aggressively, rather than wait for his opponents to go on the attack. That approach did not work for Seehra in his senior national championship bout.
"I need to let Jag go a bit," said Pegues. "I held him back in the gold-medal match, being a little too cautious and giving Hussain too much respect. Jag went out hard in the third and clearly won that round. I'm not too concerned about Hussain. We have watched the video several times and he is tough but beatable."
Pegues predicts Lally won't encounter too much difficulty as he attempts to lock up his first A team berth. Lally won the national 52kg class in Quebec City.
"I'm not worried about Kenny Lally at all," Pegues said. "There is no one at Kenny's weight that will last three rounds with him."
Seehra is already classed as an alternate for the A or B teams for international events. A strong showing in Saint-Hyacinthe would guarantee Seehra his first chance to represent Canada at an international tournament. The A and B teams usually leave the country at the same time but compete in different countries at different tournaments.
"We want to solidify a spot on either the A or B team for Jag," said Pegues. "That would put all three of us on Canada's national boxing teams. If Jag makes the B team, my biggest decisions in 2011 would be which one to travel with."
