Boxing is in Gordon Apolloni's blood.
Even while on his honeymoon in Italy in May, with his sweetheart on his arm, the sweet science was not far from his mind. The Top Glove Boxing Academy owner met with up with former Sudbury-based boxer Ivan Cancellieri, who now coaches boxing in Italy.
The two got to talking, and plans were put in motion for a team of Italian boxers to travel to the Nickel City for a night of fights.
Top Glove Boxing and Panoramic Properties will present live Olympic-style boxing on Sept. 20 inside the Kevin Houle Memorial Auditorium, located in Top Glove's gym on Lasalle Boulevard. Four boxers from Riccione, Italy will square off with local pugilists, and there are three more bouts on the card for a total of seven fights on the evening.
The Italian team arrived in Sudbury on Sunday and have been soaking in the city and training at Top Glove in the lead up to Thursday's fight night.
"They've really been enjoying it here, they've been eating at the Caruso Club so they feel right at home," said Apolloni with a laugh. "They had a bit of a meet and greet with our guys but not much more than a handshake and to say 'see you on Thursday'".
The international fight card is as follows (local fighters' names first):
- Patrick Martin vs Enea Pesaresi
- Aden Djama vs Andrea Parmeggiani
- Aman Kandola vs Erica Montabini
- Matt Cooper vs Eros Seghetti
One of the biggest fights, in more ways than one, will feature a pair of heavyweights squaring off in the ring, as Sudbury's Christian Lefebvre will be going toe-to-toe with Guillaume Bourgeois from Quebec.
The 250 lb Lefebvre is one of the few heavyweight boxers in the province, and Apolloni says it's always a challenge to find opponents in that weight class.
"He's our only heavyweight so it's tough to get fights," said Apolloni. "We had to reach out to this guy in Quebec and practically beg him to come up for the fight."
Thursday evening will be about more than just boxing, with Apolloni bringing in a trio of singers to perform the Italian national anthem. There will also be an unveiling ceremony of a banner officially commemorating the Kevin Houle Memorial Auditorium, named in honour of Kevin Houle who was a big supporter of boxing in Sudbury and tragically lost his life in a plane crash in 2009.
The event is sold out, with a capacity crowd of 240 expected to pack the auditorium.
Did you miss the chance to grab tickets? Not to worry, as Sudbury.com will be bringing you all the action, live on our website, starting at 8 p.m.
"I"m just really happy about the support for boxing here in Sudbury," said Apolloni. "It's going to be a great night."
Doors open at 7 p.m. with fights expected to get underway around 8 p.m.
Livestream of the event will begin at 8 p.m. and you can view the fights below.
