Friday night Langley fights returning

Amateur boxing comes full circle at the Coast Hotel ballroom on Friday; meanwhile, heavyweights will be featured on the card.

On Friday, Jake Weitzel and James Allison will be on opposite sides of the boxing ring – once again.

But this time around, they’ll be outside the ring, kneeling near the apron.

The two will leave the boxing aspect to their two Langley charges, each set to make their competitive debut.

Part of the Clash at the Cascades 33 amateur boxing card at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre ballroom is a match that has a “full circle” angle to it.

The two combatants are coached by Allison, trainer with the Langley City Boxing Club, and the other is guided by Weitzel, who has started his own club.

Weitzel and Allison boxed against each other 21 years ago. It was Weitzel’s first bout and Allison’s second.

Allison, who has been involved in boxing in Langley for most of his life, is now a coach after a 72-bout career.

Meanwhile, Weitzel, who also paid his dues in the local boxing scene, has started a club in Aldergrove.

Allison’s Langley City Boxing Club will have Kyle Isakson, 17, enter the ring for the first time. Ikakson, 17, is a graduate of Walnut Grove Secondary School.

Weitzel calls his club Blue Corner Boxing and will be in the corner when Jake Andres boxes competitively for the first time. The 16-year-old Andres attends Aldergrove Community Secondary School.

“The tradition in boxing is rich and this is one of those thing that makes the sport deep in tradition,” said Dave Allison, James’ dad and the organizer of Friday’s card.

Billed as the BC Classic Heavyweight Championship, the Oct. 24 event is expected to be a high watermark in amateur boxing for the year at the venue, according to Dave Allison.

The Clash series is the “foundation for amateur boxing in B.C.,” Allison said, with six to eight shows out of an average of 25 cards province-wide, annually.

Around this time last year, the WBC Canadian championships drew a sell-out crowd, taking in an event that saw some outstanding boxing.

Although this is not a Canadian championship event, it will feature some intriguing bouts, with a B.C. title on the line in a weight division that is new for amateur boxing.

BC Classic heavyweight champion Aaron Downey from Surrey will defend a title that he won last June in Fernie against hometown favorite Bob Larson.

Larson, who was No. 1 ranked in B.C. at the time, lost a five round decision to Downey.

On Friday, Downey will defend his title when he takes on Bryan Colwell of Victoria.

The Classic Heavyweight division spans from weights over 195 pounds, and up to 220 pounds.

“The new division reflects the reality of the time when heavyweights are 240 pounds plus,” Allison said.

Adam Quiredo, the current B.C. heavyweight champion, tips the scales at roughly 245 to 250 pounds, according to Allison.

“Going back to the 1970s… the heavyweights weighed between the high 190s and perhaps 210 or 220,” Allison said. “When [Muhammad] Ali fought Joe Frazier in the first meeting, Frazier was 205 and Ali just a few pounds more at 215. Joe Louis was below 200 pounds and Larry Holmes George Foreman were less than 220 pounds in their prime. This made for some geat action in heavyweight fights.”

The Colwell/Downey fight will feature “two very exciting heavyweights who will tip the scales around the 200 pound mark, give or take,” Allison said.

Downey is undefeated, however Colwell has fought higher level opposition, in Allison’s opinion.

Colwell has a win over Canadian Cruiserweight champion Ken Huber and handed Huber his only defeat since he won the B.C. Cruiserweight title more than two years ago.

It was a non-title bout and the rematch for the B.C. crown went to Huber in a very close split decision.

“Both these boxers have a high punch output and both are very fast for 200-pound fighters,” Allison said.

Colwell is the current No. 1 contender.

The semi main event will see another Classic Heavyweight bout featuring two up-and-coming talents.

Sam King Moses, who is coming off a big win from Oct. 10, will face Jared Revel, a well-known MMA fighter coming off a boxing win.

Revel has five MMA fights to his credit.

The winner of this match would be “a natural to challenge the winner of Downey-Colwell in the near future,” Allison said.

Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre ballroom.

There are 10 matches expected, free parking, and bar service are all part of the offering.

Admission is $30 and those ages 12 and under are admitted free.

Looking for a win

Brookswood boxer Mat Andreatta will be stepping through the ropes at the Coast Hotel ballroom on Friday and will be looking at turning things around.  

He has lost his last two amateur bouts, including a four-round split decision to Francis Codilla, who just last weekend captured the Canadian championship

Prior to that, in the Golden Gloves final, Andreatta lost a decision to Leo Samerelli, who just won the Canadian lightweight title last weekend.

Andreatta’s trainer Dave Allison said it is hard for a young fighter to jump up in class and age all at the same time.

Andreatta has “paid his dues without a doubt,” Allison said, adding that when he meets Lucas Collette of White Rock’s Ocean City Boxing Club on Friday, “he sees a mirror image of himself just a few short years ago.”

Collette is undefeated in four bouts and is stepping up in competition.

Andreatta, himself, went undefeated in seven matches before he tested the waters at the next level.

Andreatta is in his third year at UBC and has found it difficult to balance the commute to school and be at the club, Allison said.

He is looking to challenge Canadian lightweight champion Leo Samerelli next month at the Italian Cultural Centre.