Boxing will be back in Falls
In a unanimous decision, professional boxing is here to stay in Niagara Falls.
Promoters for Friday night’s sold-out fight card at the Scotiabank Convention Centre say an announcement is expected within three weeks for the next event, taking place in November.
Les Woods, co-owner of Global Legacy Boxing with former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, says a full schedule of 2018 events will also be announced by the end of the year, making good on his promise to turn Niagara Falls into a “boxing mecca.”
Friday night was a solid start. With seven matches, including Niagara Falls welterweight Phil Lo Greco in the main event, Woods chalked it up as “an amazing success.”
“We’re really excited. Everything we expected, and more, came out of that evening.”
With the star power of Lewis helping build buzz, and international boxers bringing plenty of their own fans, the card quickly sold all 1,000 tickets. Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga was especially popular, filling the stands with hundreds of his followers. He remained undefeated with a quick, one-punch knock out over Mexico’s Jamie Barajas.
“It felt like a football game in Scotland,” says Woods of the crowd reaction. “It was a lot of fun.”
Lo Greco, meanwhile, earned a tough unanimous decision over Mexico’s Jesus Gurrola to improve his record to 28-3.
Woods, who lives in Port Credit, says the next card will utilize more space at the convention centre, and will likely have a title match in the mix.
Current Canadian heavyweight champion Dillon ‘Big Country’ Carman was in attendance Friday and is expected to be part of the next card.
“We’ll obviously be bringing other (fighters) from around the world to Niagara, but at this time and place we want to continue to showcase local talent. You have an up-and-coming star in your own city, Josh Lupia, that will be making his pro debut sometime soon. Those are the types of athletes and boxers that an entire city can support on his way.”
Friday’s event was carried locally by Cogeco TV. As the matches get bigger, Woods expects national broadcaster TSN to offer live coverage.
Convention centre president Noel Buckley said the “venue held up really well,” and everyone appeared to go home happy.
“The optics were very good and I think there was a very nice vibe in the room,” he said. “I expect this will be the first of a number of professional boxing events to take place. We’re looking to build a relationship with Global Legacy, and I think this was a very, very good first effort.”