Fight Night proves boxing is alive and well in city
Michael Short wants you to know, unequivocally, that boxing is alive and well in Calgary.
He’s got the card to prove it. The Dekada Premier Fight Night goes on Saturday night at the Genesis Centre in Northeast Calgary, with the event getting underway with amateur bouts at 6:30 p.m.
It is billed as ‘Bringing Las Vegas to Calgary.’
The main professional clash features a couple of 135-pounders in local fighter Alvin Tam, out of the Bowmont Boxing Club with a 13-5 record, up against Mexico’s Jesus Perez, at 9-11-1. According to Short, this matchup should be one for the ages.
“It’s two guys that are coming to fight. They’re both going to come forward and swing in the true Filipino-Mexican spirit,” explained Short, Dekada’s promoter for the past couple of years. “They’re here to fight. They’re not going to run away. It’s not going to be boring. Even if you’re not a fight fan, you’re going to jump out of your seat. It’s going to be explosive. Both guys can fight.
“Perez is a journeyman. He’s willing to leave his home in Mexico and travel anywhere in the world and compete. Tam, being a former WBC titleholder in the Philippines, he’s somehow figured out a way to get 13 wins out of 18 fights.
“Anytime you’re in a fight in the Philippines or Japan, it’s a 50-50 fight. They literally throw you to the wolves and there’s no protec- tion. Somehow he’s got 13 wins out of that.
“This is an ESPN level bout,” Short added emphatically. “If you ever watch Friday Night Fights on ESPN, this is what this bout is. It’s a higher level.”
In all, Fight Night will feature six amateur and six pro bouts. Most of the competitors are local. Vancouver and Medicine Hat are also represented among the nationallevel entrants. As well, there is a masters 40-plus division.
“An event like this creates an emotional equity you can’t measure,” said Short. “There’s people that will take this and that’ll be it. It’s their Vegas, it’s their world championship. For some of the older guys, it’s the biggest thing they’ve ever encountered in boxing.
“It’s going to be incredible for a lot of guys. Dreams will be realized and there will be some upsets, too.”
Dekada started off as an MMA production and its first pure boxing event was held two years ago almost to the day.
“Boxing is not dead,” insisted Short. “People turned their heads to the left and looked to the right, maybe to MMA. It’s hard to build that fan base but we’re doing it, we’re getting the biggest crowds since Willie deWit in 1985 and Shawn O’Sullivan.
“We know the fan base is here. We have to get it in front of people. We’ve always been here, but they’ve been at (smaller facilities). We’re doing it on a bigger scale, it’s lights, camera, action and it looks just like Las Vegas.”
The Genesis Centre is a perfect venue for boxing in the city as it seats a maximum of 1,350, which can be augmented slightly with the addition of a couple of bleachers.
Included on the stacked card is a bout featuring a couple of locals, former No. 10-ranked Albert Onolunose, 21-1, versus Janks Trotter, 10-4-1; also, Calgary’s Kandi Wyatt, 3-0, has a tough nut to crack as she goes up against Mexico’s Heidy Martinez, 2-2, who hails from the same Guerros club as Perez.
Even if you’re not a fight fan, you’re going to jump out of your seat. It’s going to be explosive. Both guys can fight.