By Vincent Morin
In addition to the Quebec scene, professional boxing has regained popularity in the rest of Canada. No less than seven galas are planned in the country between now and May, in addition to the six evenings planned in La Belle Province.
So here's the action coming up in April, from coast to coast.
Toronto
The first card is scheduled for March 2, at the Toronto Casino Resort. The main fight on this United Boxing Promotions card will feature Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti (17-0, 7 KOs). The latter will try to get his hands on the IBF International super-middleweight title (154 lbs) against the Argentinian Gino Natalio Godoy (30-3, 19 KO).
In the semi-final of the evening, the Canadian super-lightweight champion (140 lbs) Mark Smither (12-0, 0 KO) will face the British Billy Arlington (11-3-4, 0 KO) to obtain the IBO International 140 lb championship.
Jamaican Olympian Ricardo Brown (10-0, 10 KOs), as well as Natasha Spence (8-4-2, 6 KOs), Mike Cabatuan (4-0-1, 2 KOs) and Milad Zareian (1-0 , 1 KO) will also be in action against Mexican rivals.
Vancouver
An event put on by Reign Boxing Promotions will take place on March 8 in Vancouver.
The final of the evening will pit British-Colombian lightweight Eric Basran (5-0, 1 KO) against Mexican Marco Villegas Rivera (7-3, 6 KO) in a clash scheduled for eight bouts.
Super featherweight Logan Clouthier (2-0, 2 KOs), multiple Canadian amateur champion Nyousha Nakhjiri (pro debut), super lightweight Gavin Bisla (0-0-1, 0 KOs) and super middleweight Harkerat Nijjar (1-0, 1 KO) will also lace up the gloves during this short five-fight card.
Hamilton
On March 30 in Hamilton, it will be the turn of Three Lions Promotions to hold a professional boxing evening.
An all-Ontario duel between Antonio Napolitano (8-0-1, 4 KOs) and Ryan Young (15-5, 11 KOs) for the Canadian middleweight title (160 lbs) will be the main attraction.
In the evening's semi-final, an undefeated super middleweight showdown between Ontario's John Michael Bianco (7-0, 3 KOs) and Croatia's Mate Rudan (6-0, 6 KOs) is scheduled for eight bouts or less. .
Also on the menu, Nova Scotian Brett Beaton (5-1, 4 KO) will face Antonio Scaringi (2-0-1, 0 KO) from Niagara Falls, Ontario's Jake Daoust (5-2, 3 KO) will face Roody Rene (3-7-1, 0 KO) of Ottawa, while Carolyn Redmond (6-2, 3 KO), Samuel Arnold (9-0, 5 KO), Dylan Taylor (pro debut) and Pedro Bernal Rodriguez (13-1-2, 5 KOs) will also want to impress.
For the galas in April, we will have the opportunity to come back!
