Slipping through punches wasn't going to be enough for Torin Edmonds, and he knew it.
The Nelson boxer was under early pressure Saturday night in a bout against Johnny Shiva of Spokane, Wash., who asserted himself in the first round by working Edmonds against the ropes multiple times.
Twice Edmonds used a slick move to get free — each time earning an ovation from his hometown crowd — but he wasn't doing himself any favours on the judges' scorecards.
“He was strong. He was pressuring me hard," said Edmonds. "But you know, me and my coach, just listen, communicate in the corner and just do something different. It's all about mind-muscle connection. You got to dig yourself, push yourself to do what you’ve got to do.”
Edmonds changed tactics and went on to defeat Shiva by unanimous decision in the main event of Fight Night 15 on Saturday at the Nelson and District Rod and Gun Club in a 64-kilogram youth open bout.
The second round started with Edmonds stumbling backwards onto the mat. But once he got up, everything changed in his favour. Shiva lost control of the centre of the ring, and Edmonds ended the round with a hard jab to Shiva's head.
In the final round, Edmonds said he saw Shiva stop protecting his body. By the end of the fight he was freely landing punches on Shiva's torso.
“I noticed he flared his elbows a bit, and he was kind of head hunter. So I just breathe, stay composed, pick my shots, then once I see the opening, just go at it and take advantage of my opportunities.”
The 13-bout card hosted by Nelson Boxing Club featured visiting clubs Cranbrook Eagles, Fernie Old School Boxing, Bulldogs Boxing of Salmon Arm, B.C., Spokane’s Legacy Boxing, Kelowna Boxing Club, Edmonton’s Marshall Boxing Club, Counterpunch Boxing of Olds, Alta., Lethbridge Boxing of Lethbridge, Alta., and Vancouver’s Monarc Boxing.
The main event was Edmonds' 30th fight. It was a highlight fight, but he also hopes to keep getting improving. Saturday's bout proved he's a quick learner.
“I feel like I'm pretty good at it and I feel I’m just getting better and better, and I just want to master what I'm doing right now.”
In the penultimate fight of the night, Nelson’s Riel Martinez fought Legacy’s Luis Castillo at 65-kg elite open. Martinez, a crowd favourite, snapped Castillo’s forehead back with a first-round jab. Castillo’s defence was strong until the third round when Martinez, who controlled the centre of the ring, finally broke through with a series of combos that landed and forced the official to check on Castillo. It was the best technical bout on the night, and went Martinez’s way in a unanimous decision.
Monarc’s Lasha Bikoevi beat Bulldogs’ fighter Jackson Mitchell with a unanimous decision in a 65-kg elite open bout. Both fighters appeared hesitant to make a mistake until the third round when the energy picked up in what turned out to be Bikoevi’s favour.
One of the night’s most frenetic fights was between Nelson’s Sabian Smith and Marshall’s Oliver Mcluskie at 60-kg youth open. Mcluskie was determined to work Smith into the ropes, but the hometown fighter was content to fight there and replied with combinations of body shots and upper cuts. Mcluskie’s best punch was early in the fight when he connected on a jab that flung Smith’s mouthguard onto the mat. The judges scored the fight in favour of Mcluskie with a split decision.
Nelson’s Jack Dool was eager to charge at Marshall’s Hamdaan Ahsan during their 57-kg junior C open fight. The visitor kept his composure and held strong to win by split decision.
There were six pauses during a 66-kg elite fight between Legacy’s Isaac Aaron and Monarc’s Marko Dukic as official Tom White repeatedly warned Aaron against using the wrong part of his glove to strike. White lost his patience in the third round and penalized Aaron a point for slapping. Dukic went on to score a unanimous decision.
Cranbrook’s Cyrus Lepsis and Morgan Vandesteen of Lethbridge fought in the heaviest match of the night at 84-kg elite. Lepsis ended the second round by catching Vandesteen with a hard right, but Vandesteen held on to win a split decision.
Fernie’s Luther Sawatzky and Marshall’s James Olivince faced each other in a spirited 57-kg junior C bout. Both fighters kept a high tempo, with Olivince earning a split decision.
Nelson’s Matt Brown opened the evening with a 65-kg elite fight against Counterpunch’s Landon Nygard. Brown caught Nygard’s cheek in the first round and opened a gash. From there Brown controlled the fight and looked like he had a lot more left in the tank at the end of three rounds, which ended with a unanimous decision in his favour.
A number of youngsters also squared off in the ring. Nelson’s Beau Mahoney and Demeke Gillette of Legacy, fighting at 39-kg junior A, showed plenty of courage and energy as Gillette scored a unanimous decision. Nelson’s Freddie Dool meanwhile edged Kelowna’s Tommy Lipkovits by split decision at 34-kg junior A.
In an exhibition bouts, Nelson’s Sofia Akimova traded punches with Counterpunch’s Cierra Baskin, and Nelson’s Damon Haddow boxed Marshall’s Dashiel Marshall.
