Local fighters from Amherstburg win medals at Brampton Cup

By Ron Giofu

Four fighters with Amherstburg’s Fighting Island Boxing Club came home with medals at a large boxing tournament recently.

Tiageo Baltiero, Curtis Realba, Kendal Wonham and Layne Mountain travelled to the Brampton Cup the weekend of Feb. 3-5 and each brought home a medal.

Joe LeBlanc, owner/coach at the Fighting Island Boxing Club, said Baltiero won gold in the senior open division while Realba won gold in the junior “B” division. Wonham captured a silver medal in the junior “C” category. Mountain won a bronze medal in the junior “B” division, losing to the eventual gold medalist.

“It’s the biggest tournament in Canada and the second largest in North America,” said LeBlanc. “There were over 600 competitors in the tournament. We had four rings going continuously.”

The Canadian National Senior Championships were being held at the same venue, he added.

Boxers in the Brampton Cup came from as far as Bahrain and Ireland as well as all across Canada.

“It was a great experience for the young athletes we have,” he said.

LeBlanc added the fighters end up becoming friends with their opponents due to the respect they gain for one another.

“It’s something to see,” he said.

Baltiero and Mountain were unavailable for comment last Thursday evening but Wonham and Realba commented on their experiences.

Realba said it was his first fight, adding he started to box four months ago.

“It feels good,” he said of his gold medal. “I was nervous but when the bell rang, all of that fear went away.”

Realba said his next goal is to win and his next fight is not yet determined. He thanked his coaches for their efforts.

“It’s hard to describe,” he said of being in the ring. “There’s nothing really like it.”

Wonham said “it was fun” and she was confident heading into the ring in Brampton.

“I’m always nervous before a fight,” she added, stating she was fine when the bell rang. “I was disappointed I lost but I thought I had a good fight.” Wonham estimated she has been boxing for almost four years and has had “six or seven” fights along the way.

“We’re trying to get another fight some time in March,” she added.