Cape Breton Drive-In hosts boxing card
Barry Bernard says the night is all about letting the kids have some fun
SYDNEY — The Lights Out fight card took place at the Cape Breton Drive-In Theatre on Saturday night with more than 100 cars in attendance to see the 19-bout amateur boxing card.
Arranged by Eskasoni’s Red Tribe Boxing and the New Waterford Boxing Club, organizers said it was the first boxing card in Atlantic Canada since the COVID-19 shutdown. And for Leon Denny it was special.
“I love this, this is my dream especially seeing the young ones from Eskasoni,” said Denny.
The 52-year-old is a lifelong combat sports fan. He first became involved in karate and boxing as a young athlete to become tougher on the ice as a hockey player. Denny said discipline and conditioning are key components of boxing and he’s glad to see the kids from Eskasoni involved.
He is also a band councillor with Eskasoni First Nation and knows many of the athletes fighting out of Red Tribe Boxing come from hard situations. Denny calls them “given-achance kids,” and he loves seeing them involved in a sport so they can develop discipline.
As for watching the boxing matches from his own car, he was elated.
“I really enjoyed this, this something new that I’m having on my Saturday evening. I’m having a ball here. I love it. It’s a great idea,” said Denny.
And he hopes more events like this take place to keep the kids involved.
Eleanor Bernard thinks it may become the new normal and sees it as the only way to properly watch the fights.
“It’s a way for us to social distance, you know being in the safety of your own car — that’s the big thing,” said Bernard.
The audience was encouraged to wear a mask when they left their cars and in between fights the ring was sprayed with disinfectant.
Her whole family was part of the fight card. Husband Barry Bernard helped organize it, their daughter was an official, one son was a referee and two other sons helped coach. And she’s so proud of how far the gym has come.
“It’s unbelievable, when they first started out, they basically had nothing, but through the years they’ve gotten new equipment and gear,’ said Bernard.
She watched the fights from the family RV and cheered on the eight Eskasoni fighters on the card. Other fighters came from across the Atlantic region to take part.
And for Barry Bernard it was all for the kids.
“With this card it isn’t about colour, this isn’t about race. It’s having these children come in and enjoy themselves. To kind of forget what’s happening in the world,“he said.
He knows the world’s tensions have landed on some of his kids shoulders and they’ve been anxious to get back in the ring and box.