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Boxers have golden opportunity at Coast Hotel ballroom in Langley

For amateur boxers who circled the B.C. Golden Gloves on their calendar, their wait will soon be over.

Friday, Aug. 1 at the Coast Hotel ballroom beside Cascades Casino, boxers will battle for a coveted Golden Gloves title.

“The history of the Golden Gloves is part of the history of boxing and specifically, amateur boxing,” said show organizer and Langley City Boxing manager Dave Allison, who believes it will be a great night of boxing featuring some of BC’s best.

While boxers involved can change quickly, this event should see the return of two local pugilists who have not competed for some time.

Gurpreet Butar and Mat Andreatta of Langley City Boxing will return to the ring after being out for a year.

Butar will take on Ilya Kovilenko of North Burnaby and will be competing in the welterweight division.

Andreatta is slated to take on undefeated Leo Samereli in a super lightweight bout.

“The Golden Gloves always bring out the best,” Allison said. “Every amateur boxer wants to win the Golden Gloves. Another part of this event is the awarding of the Golden Boy trophy for the best boxer of the night. The tradition of the Golden Gloves has had its ups and downs and with the recent revival of amateur boxing in B.C., this should be a great night of boxing.”

Between 10 and 12 matches are expected at the venue that Allison believes is “No. 1 one for amateur boxing.”

The bouts in the ballroom will start at 7:30 p.m. with the doors opening at 7 p.m.

General admission is $30 and kids ages 12 and under get in free. Bar service is available.

McPhee wins decision

Langley teacher Alisah McPhee participated in the first ever pro boxing event under the control of the new BC Athletic Commission July 18 in Nanaimo.

McPhee who represents Langley City Boxing and is trained by James Allison, saw her pro record improve to 3-1-1 after she won a unanimous decision over Peggy Mearz of Kelowna.

The bout was tough and competitive, and saw McPhee win on all three scorecards, four rounds to two.

“As far as women’s boxing in Canada [is concerned], this was a top fight and was almost sanctioned as a Canadian championship fight,” Dave Allison said.

McPhee is now ranked No. 1 in Canada at 118 pounds and will look to be back in the ring again in the fall.

McPhee was recently certified as a personal fitness instructor, and feels her fitness and preparation was a big part of her win, Dave Allison noted.