The Swedish National Boxing Team will be in action tonight (Thursday, Oct. 5) at the Caruso Club taking on local boxers, and other pugilists from across the province.
The bell rings at 8 pm and general admission is $15.
Highlighting the card will be a special exhibition match
between ONTC coach Gord Apolloni and Omar Gagnon.
Both men are members of the Sudbury Charities Foundation and
have stepped back into the ring to help raise funds for kids.
Half of the proceeds from tonight's event will go the
Sudbury/Manitoulin Children's Foundation. The money will
send disadvantaged youths to summer camp.
This past summer, the program was able to send 850 kids to a
summer camp.
"There's always a waiting list," said Gagnon. "With the
charity event, we hope to raise more money to send a lot more
kids to a summer camp."
It has been 32 years since Gagnon, 67, has boxed inside the
squared circle.
He will go three rounds with Apolloni.
"I promised his mom and pa I would take it easy on him," joked
Gagnon.
The rest of the card will feature some of the best female
boxers in the world.
Slated for action are Mary Spencer, the 2005 71-kilogram World
Champion.
As well, Sudbury's own Isabelle Perreault will travel back
from Ottawa to box.
"Boxing in Sudbury is always a lot of fun for me," said
Perreault. "My family is extremely supportive and they bring
lots of energy. I think this will be a treat for boxing
fans...You don't get international boxing events often in
Canada, so this will be an event not to miss."
The Swedes have brought their best to compete. The squad
features many national champions.
"It's a loaded card," said Apolloni. "It will be an
incredible night of boxing, plus fans will get to see me and
Omar in action...it will be a lot of fun."
