Local fighter wins Canadian National Championship

Curtis Realba of Amherstburg won a national championship in the U17 48kg weight class June 1 in Quebec City. He fights out of the Fighting Island Boxing Club.

A local fighter is now a national champion.

Curtis Realba of the Fighting Island Boxing Club won a Canadian National Championship in Quebec City with the final day for the tournament being June 1. He won in the U17 48 kg category. 

The 14-year-old Realba stated he fought twice while in Quebec City, winning both fights. His goal when he climbs into the ring is to “go in there and get my hand raised.”

The final bout, the one where he clinched a gold medal, was against a 17-year-old but Realba didn’t know that until after he beat him.

“My coach didn’t tell me until after the fight,” said Realba. “It was a good fight. It was a tough fight.”

During the fight, Realba said his coaches were encouraging him the entire way.

“My coaches kept telling me in the corner that I was up,” he said.

Realba added it hasn’t sunk in yet that he is a national champion.

“It hasn’t registered in my head yet that I won,” he said. “It’s crazy.”

The Amherstburg resident has been boxing for three years and trains at the club four nights per week. Realba thanked his coaches, parents, grandparents and all of the supporters he has had.

“A lot of people have congratulated me,” said Realba.

Realba added his next fight could be in Detroit in the coming weeks as efforts are being made to set up a match.

“I just love the sport and everything about it,” he said.

Joe LeBlanc, the owner and one of the coaches with Fighting Island Boxing Club, said the club has had several national champions over the years and it was time to add to the list. LeBlanc said for a community the size of Amherstburg, they are producing high quality boxers. He said he is not aware of another club from a municipality the size of Amherstburg with the same number of fighters going to provincials or nationals.

“It speaks volumes of the people in this community,” said LeBlanc. “That’s pretty cool for a community this size.”

LeBlanc said Realba will put in the extra effort and work hard. He said that is often the key to succeeding.

“In the end, to be successful at the national championship, you have to be better than everyone else,” he said, emphasizing that comes through hard work and dedication.

LeBlanc added he and the coaches were confident in Realba when they took the train to Quebec City. That is the same for any boxer when they go to a competition.

“I’m not taking them there to lose,” he said. “In my heart, I know they are going to win.”

Local fighter wins Canadian National Championship

By Ron Giofu