Audrey Edmunds and Thunder Innis delivered commanding performances in Medicine Hat on Saturday, Jan. 18, winning their respective divisions at the Alberta Silver Gloves championships.
Both boxers, members of the Inner City Boxing PG Wardogs, took home gold medals with unanimous decisions in their bouts.
Edmunds, 12, faced Evelyn Custer from North Battleford, Sask., in her first competitive match against an opponent her age and weight class. The young boxer dominated from the start, taking control of the ring with aggressive combinations that had her opponent on the defensive.
Coaches Jag Seehra and Kenny Lally praised Edmunds for her precision and pace, noting that Custer was left scrambling to respond. Although Custer showed some resilience in the final round, it was too little, too late. Edmunds’ victory was met with a victorious arm raise from the referee.
“She’s on Cloud 9 right now, which she should be,” said Lally. “She did amazing. She’s put so much work in, especially at her age.”
Innis, a 16-year-old powerhouse at 85 kilograms, faced Rannoch Derkson-Gamble of Lethbridge, Alta. The fight was a battle of styles, with Derkson-Gamble coming out aggressively, throwing hard punches in the opening rounds. However, Innis weathered the storm and used his technical skill to control the fight, landing sharp uppercuts and hooks. After a few early exchanges, Innis' movement and counter-punching secured him a dominant victory.
“Thunder just found his rhythm, and from there, it was a beautiful display of boxing,” said Seehra. “He’s been on a great run, and this was just another example of how smart and powerful he is in the ring.”
Although Innis has fought only six times in his career, his combination of ring intelligence and power has yet to be challenged, coaches said.
The third Inner City boxer, 17-year-old Josh Greenwood, put up a strong fight in the 60-65kg weight class but ultimately lost to Steven Carabali of Edmonton. Greenwood, who showed determination throughout the match, battled hard to the end, with the final round in his favor. His coaches said they were proud of his effort, despite the loss.
“Josh fought to the end, and that’s what we love about him – there’s no quit,” said Seehra.
The coaches were unable to find an opponent for a fourth boxer, 17-year-old Ben Ruttan, who fights at 90 kilograms.
The boxers will continue training this week, as their coaches work to secure their next bouts.
“We’re super-proud of all the kids,” Seehra added. “This shows that everything we’re doing is on the right path. They’re listening and following the program, and it’s paying off.”
The Alberta Silver Gloves tournament was for boxers with up to 10 fights of experience.
