FIBC sends seven fighters to Brampton Cup and bring home six medals
- Ron Giofu
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Fighting Island Boxing Club (FIBC) brought seven fighters to the recent Brampton Cup and finished with six medals.
The competition was Feb. 5-8 and saw FIBC fighters earn three gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal.
Dawson Woltz-Raby captured one of the gold medals, winning his fight which was the 17th of his career. He fought out of the 75kg weight class.
“A bunch of guys were scared to fight the kid I fought,” said Woltz-Raby. “I moved my feet and made sure he couldn’t get in.”
Woltz-Raby said he was confident going in, noting he uses a different training method now.
“I warm up a bit earlier now,” he said. “I think that helped me with getting my feet loose.”
Woltz-Raby said while his gold medal was a big accomplishment, he is preparing for the nationals that are coming in March in Calgary.
Kayze Vasic won gold in the 42-44kg weight class. He said he has been boxing for two years and feels good about his accomplishment, adding it was his first fight.
“I like that it helps teach me how to protect myself,” said Vasic.
Vasic added he was nervous going into the fight at the Brampton Cup, but that feeling disappeared when the fight began.
“I was really happy,” he said, after learning of his victory. “I was smiling. I was really confident.”
Vasic said he hopes to get nine fights under his belt so he can qualify for provincials.
Adrian Strong took gold in the 75kg weight division and said he was calm during the tournament. He said he “trusted in the work” he and his coaches put in with him and it was one of the biggest competitions he fought in.
Strong said he is proud of his accomplishment and plans to “keep grinding” going forward. He said he has been boxing for roughly 18 months.
“I’m very grateful to be at this point in my life,” said Strong.
Curtis Realba won silver in the 50kg weight class. The national champion said there is room for improvement.
“I had a good fight but didn’t get the result I wanted,” he said. “I definitely learned from the experience. I just feel I got to use my angles more and use my speed.”
Realba will try to keep his national title as he and Woltz-Raby head to the training camp in Toronto for the nationals at the end of March.
Harrison Braga won silver in the 56-57kg weight class. He has been boxing for three years and likes the coaches and environment at the FIBC.
“I feel great about it,” said Braga.
Braga added he was confident heading into the fight, which was his first.
“I felt excited. I tried not to feel nervous,” he said.
Braga stated he is not sure what is next, as he was focused on the Brampton Cup.
“I was focused on what I was doing,” he said.
Ethan Jimmerfield won bronze in the 60kg category. He won his first fight but lost his second. He said he hopes to fight the boxer he lost to again, pledging to obtain a different result.
“I definitely have got to get bigger,” he said.
Jimmerfield said he learned a lot at the Brampton Cup and plans on improving going forward.
Nick Grimaldi had one fight and he competed in the 65kg weight class. It was his third fight overall. While he didn’t win, he did feel he learned a lot. He added they have great coaches at FIBC.
“I learned I need to work a little bit harder,” said Grimaldi. “I need to work on my arm strength a bit. I have to fight smarter too.
Grimaldi said he’s been training about two years at FIBC.
The Fighting Island Boxing Club is located in the Amherstburg Community Hub with training occurring evenings Monday through Thursday.
FIBC sends seven fighters to Brampton Cup and bring home six medals
By Ron Giofu
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