Local rookie boxer Brandon Balbirnie made his fight debut and notched his first win at Kelowna's Night of Action at Sunplex Sports Arena, June 22.
After a decisive advance in the first round, the 13-year-old member of the Zeus Fight Science club in 100 Mile House scored a technical knockout midway through his second round against Madkatz Boxing Club's Vincenzo “The Hyena” Lawrence-Bertucci.
Balbirnie says he was punch-shy in the opening round and poured on a flurry of hits to keep his opponent at bay. Lawrence-Bertucci mounted a short-lived comeback, just to have Balbirnie answer with increased intensity.
“I didn't let him escape,” he says.
Balbirnie dominated from the beginning in round 2, throwing a relentless flurry of hard combinations and uppercuts, which Lawrence-Bertucci was unable to withstand. The referee stopped the bout and called the TKO (technical knockout).
“I wasn't sure why they stopped it and called me over,” says Balbirnie. “I didn't know what to expect.”
Noting he was overjoyed with the win and experiencing a fight, Balbirnie says his respect for the sport has grown even more.
Boxing coach Kelly Ricketts says he's extremely proud of Balbirnie's commitment, work ethic and performance.
“Brandon showed exceptional poise and calm before the fight, even having a short nap 20 minutes before the bout. It's something only seasoned fighters may be able to do.”
Balbirnie says prior to dozing off, he'd been nervous and the adrenaline was running, making him over-excited, and adds he was grateful to his coach for calming him down.
The young boxer only took up the sport in early October 2012 as a favour to a friend who wanted Balbirnie to join him for workouts.
“I liked it right away,” says the multi-talented athlete who also excels in hockey and long-distance running.
He placed fifth in the bantam boys division at the 2012 BC Cross-Country Running Provincial Championships, and first last year in the Williams Lake KidSport Classic Relay, Walk and Half Marathon 10-kilometre men's 18 years and under race.
On the ice, he played bantam house hockey last season with 100 Mile & District Minor Hockey Association.
He says boxing has helped him keep in top shape for his other sports and interests.
“There's nothing wrong with a good, hard workout. Boxing has really helped me with conditioning and strength, and it builds character.”
He hadn't considered fighting in a match until Ricketts asked if he might like to give it a try some time, which piqued his interest
Balbirnie says he'll be up for another fight when one comes along.
Ricketts notes it may be as early at July 19 in Vancouver, at Clash of the Cascades at the Cascades Casino in Langley.