It was standing room only at the Valley East Boxing Club on Saturday for the first Nickel City Knockouts Muay Thai exhibition fights.
Fighters from across Northern Ontario converged on Sudbury to showcase their martial arts skills over 11 bouts. Organized by Dawn Culgin of Sudbury Kickboxing Academy, the event was her way of giving back for all the support she has received throughout her fighting career.
As an exhibition event, there were no winners in any of the matches. Instead, the referee raised the hands of both combatants following three two-minute rounds for each fight (the kids fighting fought three one-minute rounds).
The real winner, however, was Maison McCulloch Hospice, as all proceeds raised went to support their services.
This is the first such event to take place, she said. Another event might happen in the future, and might contain full-fledged sanctioned matches.