SIX BOXERS TO REPRESENT TEAM CANADA AT THE 2018 AIBA ELITE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Posted on November 8, 2018November 12, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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The Girls Teen Boxing Program at Kingsway Boxing Club, is run by  coaches Virgil Barrow and AIBA International Referee, Jennifer Huggins. After recognizing the incredible impact the sport has had on her life, she felt it was necessary to share her passion with the youth of the community. The girls who participate in this class learn the technical components of boxing and are given an opportunity to explore their confidence in ways that will help them in all walks of life. We look forward to welcoming the girls back and opening the doors to others looking to share in the experience.

Those of you who follow Jennifer Huggins on social media, know that she is away on assignment for the Women’s World Boxing Championships in Delhi, India.

“I was very fortunate to be involved with the Olympic Boxing Qualification process for Rio 2016 and now leading into Tokyo 2020. I’m honoured to visit many countries and officiate the top athletes of the sport.”

Jennifer has also had the honour of watching some of our talented Canadian boxers reach the Olympic level, including PanAm Gold Medalist, and Rio 2016 Olympian, Mandy Bujold.

“As I prepare to embark on a 24 hour journey to get to the World Championships in Delhi, India, I’m reminded how fortunate I am to participate in Olympic sport in a very different capacity.”

Follow The Journey

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Read more about the Canadian athletes heading out to represent boxing on the world stage! 

SIX BOXERS TO REPRESENT TEAM CANADA AT THE 2018 AIBA ELITE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

With less than a week to go, Boxing Canada unveils the team that will represent Canada at the 2018 Elite Women’s World Championships. Organized by AIBA, the competition is set to take place from November 15^th– 24^thin New Delhi, India. Here are the six Canadians who will partake in this international competition:

A ‘Wicked’ Halloween With The Kingsway Boxing Kids

Posted on October 31, 2018October 31, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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A ‘Wicked’ Halloween With The Kingsway Boxing Kids

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The boxing kids came prepared with costumes to match their skills for their Halloween class!

Boxing is one of the most enjoyable sports for people of all ages. Introducing the sport at a young age helps kids develop the skills and confidence they may need moving forward in other sports, and even in everyday life. With registration at capacity each season, the Kids Boxing Classes have proven to be one of our most popular programs. We look forward to welcoming the kids back and opening the doors to other children looking to share in the experience.

Winter Registration is NOW OPEN!

With registration at capacity each season, the Kids Boxing Classes have proven to be one of our most popular programs. We look forward to welcoming the kids back and opening the doors to other children looking to share in the experience.

Space is limited, sign up today!

More Info or Register Now

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2018 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES: A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE FOR THE CANADIAN BOXING TEAM

Posted on October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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2018 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES: A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE FOR THE CANADIAN BOXING TEAM

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HIGHLIGHTING SHAWN O’SULLIVAN | Canadian Light Weight Champion

Posted on September 17, 2018September 17, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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HIGHLIGHTING SHAWN O’SULLIVAN | Canadian Lightweight Champion

Resources: Wikipedia| 16:9 Global News – Against The Ropes | Leaside Life

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About Shawn O’Sullivan:

Do you remember when Leasider Shawn O’Sullivan won the gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 1981 and again in 1983? At the time he was the toast of the town and the Borough of East York.

Shawn grew up on Donlea Drive along with his twin sister Maureen and his younger brother Kevin. Shawn jokes that he is the eldest because he was born a few minutes before Maureen. He first learned to box under the guidance and instruction of his father Michael O’Sullivan who was a TTC bus driver.

As an amateur boxer, Shawn rang up 94 victories while losing only six times, a record matched by very few, if any, other Canadian boxers. At the age of 16 he won the Canadian Junior title in Whitehorse, Yukon. Then in 1981, as a 19 year old, he defeated the Cuban Olympic gold medalist, Armando Martinez, twice on his way to winning the gold medal as a light middleweight in the World Amateur Boxing Championships. That year he was named Canada’s Athlete of the Year.

In 1984 at the Los Angeles Olympics, after totally dominating his earlier opponents, he fought an American, Frank Tate, for the gold medal. During the second round of the championship match, Shawn took Tate to two standing eight counts and nearly a third as the round ended. But the judges awarded the match and thus the gold medal to Frank Tate. When the gold medal was draped around Tate’s neck, the crowd booed. Later, even Tate’s coach admitted Shawn may have won.

After winning the Olympic silver medal, Shawn turned professional. He won his first 11 bouts as a welterweight. When he finally retired from boxing he had recorded 23 wins, 16 of them by knockouts.

In 2015, Leaside’s pride, Shawn O’Sullivan, was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

Amateur Highlights:

• 1981 World Amateur Champion – This fight was hailed as possibly THE BEST BOXING FIGHT EVER. SHAWN O’SULLIVAN-CAN VS ARMANDO MARTINEZ-CUB.
• 1981 Canadian Athlete of the Year
• Commonwealth Games: Gold medal – first place 1982 Brisbane Light Middleweight
• Olympic Games: Silver medal – second place 1984 Los Angeles Light Middleweight

Olympics and Controversy:

Leading up the 1984 Olympics, O’Sullivan and fellow Canadian Willie de Wit were both favoured to win the gold medals in their classes: de Wit as a heavyweight and O’Sullivan as a light middleweight.
 
In the gold medal bout with Frank Tate, O’Sullivan took Tate to two standing-eight-counts in the second round (and nearly a third as the round ended), but the judges unanimously gave the decision to Tate. O’Sullivan dominated the second round; however, four of the judges (Keith Walker of New Zealand, Han Dong Jin of South Korea, Noureddine Addala of Tunisia and Muili Ojo of Nigeria) gave Tate the round by the slim margin of 20-19.
 
Tate was booed when the gold medal was draped around his neck. Tate had won in a 5-0 decision and even his coach, Emanuel Steward, admitted O’Sullivan may have won.[3] O’Sullivan, who himself had benefited from a controversial decision against Christophe Tiozzo in the semifinals, was gracious in defeat and called the outcome “unfortunate”.
 
His results were

• 1st round bye
• Defeated Mohamed Halibi (Libya) RSC 2
• Defeated Ahn Dal-Ho (South Korea) RSC 1
• Defeated Rod Douglas (Great Britain) 5-0
• Defeated Christophe Tiozzo (France) 5-0
• Lost to Frank Tate (United States) 0-5
   

[REGISTRATION LAST CALL] Kingsway Boxing Club Fall Program Registration

Posted on August 30, 2018September 11, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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Dear Team KBC!

Virgil, myself and our team at Kingsway Boxing are so excited to welcome you all back this Fall! Kingsway Boxing now operates out of two separate locations, which allows for a wide range of people, with varying interests, to accomplish any goal. We successfully run competitive and recreational boxing programs, while hosting a variety of fitness and high performance athletic programs out of both locations.

We even offer Sport Specific Registered Massage Therapy and High Performance Yoga!

See below for all the new programs available at both locations!

In The Meantime, Keep Your Hands Up!

 

 

Jennifer Huggins
Kingsway Boxing Club

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PROGRAM UPDATE: BOX-FIT FUSION IS NOW ONLY $120 RUNNING WEDNESDAY ONLY

Rewriting History with Boxing Legends & The Eddie Melo Legacy Organization

Posted on August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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The Eddie Melo Legacy Organization will bring together some of Toronto’s Greatest past and present boxing legends in support of at-risk youth.

Article By Jennifer Huggins | View Original Article via Toronto Guardian

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Boxing has an incredible way of connecting people in a deep and profound manner. Maybe it’s the intensity of the training, the dedication required or simply the type of people that the sport attracts. Whatever the cause, the strength and respect within the boxing community is undeniable. It is a community that understands, respects and reveres its history and those that came before. It’s a community that doesn’t care if you’re a former or current champion, a kid trying to find their way or an executive that trains whenever their schedule allows. We are all part of the community; We are all boxers.

From the first time I stepped into a boxing gym almost 20 years ago I have heard the words “boxing made me who I am today”. Although I didn’t really understand it then, I know those words are true for me today. Boxing has given me so much professionally and personally, I can’t imagine who or where I would be without the sweet science. Beyond my own experience, I have witnessed the transformative effects of boxing on countless lives. I have seen children walk through the doors of my gym, too nervous to make eye contact, become smiling, laughing beings with a sparkle in their eyes after 10 minutes of throwing punches. I have seen a CEO, who never climbed a set of stairs, become a legend in the ring. I have witnessed a boxer lose every round of a fight, and somehow find the strength and courage to stop their opponent in the last 10 seconds of the final round.

Three months ago, I received a call from the other side of the country. The young woman on the other end of the call introduced herself as Jess Melo, a family name familiar to most every Canadian boxing enthusiast. Over the course of the call, Jess spoke to me about the Organization she had launched to honour her father and the boxing legends she had recruited to help. Later that day as I walked around my gym, looking at the posters that adorn the walls I began to notice there in print all the names Jessie had mentioned during our call; truly a collection of boxing legends.

Fast forward to this past weekend and Friday night found me referring a card of amateur matches outside under a blanket of stars on a perfect summer night in front of a knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd that included a long list of boxing legends. Saturday afternoon I was back in my gym, sharing the ring with the same laundry list of boxing legends that included George Chuvalo (5x Canadian Champion & World Heavy weight Contender), Nicky Furlano (3x Canadian Boxing Champion and World Super Lightweight Contender), Billy Irwin (Canadian & IBO World Boxing Lightweight Champion), Mark Simmons (Canadian Olympian), Iran Barkley (5x World Boxing Champion), Junior Jones (5x World Boxing Champion), Mark Breland (Olympic Gold Medalist & 2x World Welterweight Champion), John Scully (New England Middleweight Champion and former Light Heavyweight Contender), Tom Patti (Amateur Boxing Champion, Advocate & Politician) and a few others. Watching these accomplished athletes work with a collection of young boxers, I was awed by the strength and beauty of this community that I am so proud and humbled to be part of. Following the training sessions, each of the legends in attendance said a few words, all of which were inspiring and heart-felt and centered around a common theme: Boxing made me who I am today.

Both events were in support of the Eddie Melo Legacy Organization. The organization, founded by Jessica and Joey Melo, daughter and brother of the late Eddie Melo, is dedicated to helping young at-risk amateur boxers experience positive influences and sociability and to help keep them off the streets and in the boxing gym. As well as children who have lost a parent due to a homicide; this is a platform for giving back to them and sponsoring them through anything that can help lessen the burden and give them support during such a tragic time.

In addition to raising the awareness of The Eddie Melo Legacy Organization, the event on Saturday announced the inception of the Eddie Melo Legacy Mentorship Program. The program will use the organization’s unprecedented access to boxing legends to enhance amateur boxers’ aspirations in the sport with an acute attention to their social development, education and future.

I could go on for pages describing the honour and privilege of sharing the ring with the incredible collection of boxing greats, but I think the impact of the event is best described by the words of a mother who attended with her children.

“Meeting Junior Jones and the other legends was inspiring. My children have a new respect and interest in the spirt!”

~Lisa Ventura, Media Orientation Attendee

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Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow

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About The Eddie Melo Legacy Organization | www.eddiemelolegacy.org

Jessica Melo, Founder/Chairwoman of the Eddie Melo Legacy Organization and daughter of the late Eddie Melo, founded Eddie Melo Legacy Organization to support amateur boxers and children who’s parent(s) were the victims of homicide.

With the help of her uncle “Jersey Joe” Melo she aspires to not only educate Canada’s amateur boxers and those who have been victims of homicides, they endeavor reaching out to all youths in hopes of giving them a platform where they can develop and grow into successful human beings.

About Kingsway Boxing Club | www.kingswayboxing.com

Kingsway Boxing Club is located in the west end of Toronto, Canada. We operate out of two locations; The High Performance Studios and The Boxing Gym Facility. Having the two separate locations allows for a wide range of people, with varying interests to accomplish any goal. Kingsway successfully runs competitive boxing programs out of the Boxing Gym, while hosting a variety of fitness, recreational and high-performance athletic services out of both locations.

Boxing is undeniably one of the top mentally and physically challenging sports. Many athletes, businesses and recreational sport enthusiasts use the sport as a cross training tool. It is a great sport to get into supreme shape, it is also a challenging, but amazing sport to take to the next level of competition.

It’s our priority to invest into our community, helping to build mental, physical and emotional strength with each individual who walks through our doors. With programs for all ages and fitness levels, there’s no reason to wait!

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Now Welcoming Boxers Into Our Youth Amateur Boxing Program

Posted on August 8, 2018August 8, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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After Much Anticipation, We Are Now Welcoming Boxers Into Our Youth Amateur Boxing Program

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Our Youth Boxing Programs are run by Canadian National Coaches Jennifer Huggins, Virgil Barrow, Phil Daniels alongside our Boxing Ontario Assistant coaches. After recognizing the incredible impact the sport has had on their lives, the team felt it was necessary to share their passion for boxing with the youth of the community.

Those who participate in these classes learn the technical components of the sport, and are given an opportunity to explore their confidence in ways that will help them in all walks of life. The Youth Boxing Membership is appropriate for participants ages 11-19 and generally requires a good understanding of the sport.

Important Note: For beginners we suggest our Co-Ed Teen and Girl’s Teen Seasonal Programs

Youth boxers will develop a true understanding of:

• The rules of Olympic Boxing
• Basic boxing technique
• Shadow boxing
• Heavy, speed and double ended bag work
• Self defence
• Offensive tactics
• Safe atmosphere to explore optional Sparring/Competition

Membership Access:

• Unlimited Teen Conditioning and Sparring classes at Boxing Gym Location
• Unlimited access to the “Open Training” at the Boxing Gym
• Member rates for all specialty and seasonal programs (including programs at The HIGH PERFORMANCE STUDIOS | 3046 Bloor St. W. Toronto ON.)

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Are You Ready To Get Started!?

Program Details

EVENT ADVISORY: Taking Over The Streets Of The Kingsway

Posted on July 17, 2018August 8, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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TAKING OVER THE STREETS AT THE TASTE OF THE KINGSWAY 2018

Friday Sept. 7 through Sunday Sept. 9
5pm – 10 pm (Friday) and 11 am to 6 pm Saturday and Sunday

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Taste Of The Kingsway was the ‘birth place’ of Kingsway Boxing Club in 2006,  and we continue spending time investing back into our community.

Join the Kingsway Boxing and Fight To End Cancer Families outside of our new high performance studio location at Royal York and Bloor (3046 Bloor St. W) on Friday Sept. 7 from 5pm until 10pm and Saturday Sept. 8 and Sunday Sunday Sept. 9 all day! This will be our 12th Annual attendance at the festival and our first year ever in our new location. We are celebrating with an Open House, Boxing Lessons, Raffles, Special Packages and much more!

This annual fall festival runs along Bloor Street West between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Rd., isn’t the same old food festival – this is a culinary and physical experience!

The Taste of the Kingsway is renowned for the quality of entertainers showcased on our TWO GRAND STAGES with continuous live entertainment from well known artists, performers and musicians.

Over 200 exhibitors will be participating in this year’s event. Beer & Wine Gardens. Food! Be sure to come out and support Kingsway Boxing and The Fight To End Cancer (Festival Specials Listed Below). See you there! In The Meantime, Keep Your Hands Up!

50% of all Kingsway Boxing Club event sales will be donated to the Fight To End Cancer benefiting the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

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FESTIVAL SPECIALS

• $2.00 Boxing Lessons
• 400 Punch Challenge
  • ALL participants receive a special gift valued at $80.00 (courtesy of Fight To End Cancer) and challenge winners additionally receive Beginner Package ($150.00 value)
• $55.00 Beginner Packages (reg. $150)
  • Includes:
    • 1 Private Lesson
    • 3 Scheduled Classes
    • 1 month Unlimited Access To Individual Training Hours
• $250 Fall Specialty Kids and Teen Program Registration (Reg. $275)
• $95.00 FightCamp Special Registration (-$55.00 off regular price)
• Become A Fighter | FTEC2019 Tryout Registration
  • Register as a charity fighter in our exclusive corporate program Fight To End Cancer
  • 2019 Tryout/Orientation Saturday Sept. 29, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
  • More Info/Application

PRESS RELEASE: Eddie Melo Legacy Organization Proudly Presents a “Media Orientation with The Champs”

Posted on July 12, 2018August 2, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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Press Release: EMLO
July 11, 2018

Media Inquiries | Media Accreditation
Jessica Melo, Founder-Chairwoman
Eddie Melo Legacy Organization
jessie@eddiemelolegacy.org

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PRESS RELEASE: Eddie Melo Legacy Organization Proudly Presents a “Media Orientation with The Champs”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Toronto ON. The Eddie Melo Legacy Organization (EMLO) is proud to announce our “Media Orientation with The Champs”, on Saturday August 11th 2018, at Jennifer Huggins’ Toronto Kingsway Boxing Club, located at 22-B Jutland Rd. Toronto, ON. Canada M8Z 2G9. The Media Orientation will follow the EMLO Inaugural Invitational Amateur Boxing Show which will be hosted the night before (August 10th 2018), at the Junction Craft Brewery.

The AIM of EMLO’s “Media Orientation with The Champs,” is to announce the inception of the Eddie Melo Legacy Organization’s Mentorship Program and to allow those in attendance to meet “The Champs” up close.

The “Media Orientation with The Champs,” is an exclusive affair for the participants of the EMLO Inaugural Invitational Amateur Boxing Show, their family, coaches and other youth (since some may not be attend “An Evening Under The Stars II” later that evening), for invited guests and the Media.

We would also like to invite Boxing Ontario membership to the “Media Orientation with The Champs”; present your boxing licence or membership card and bring a non-perishable food bank donation.

The Eddie Melo Legacy Organization’s Mentors (former Amateur and World boxing champions) will be on hand to speak with those in attendance and to share their involvement with the EMLO Mentorship Program.

If there is room for persons not on ‘invitation list’ who want to attend, the Eddie Melo Legacy Organization will kindly extend entry to “Media Orientation with The Champs.”

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Treat A Human Being As They Are And They Will Remain As They Are… Treat Them As They Can And Should Be And They Will Become As They Can And Should Be.

Media Inquiries
Jennifer Huggins, President
Kingsway Boxing Club
jennifer@kingswayboxingclub.com
+1 (416) 666-9314

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Do You Have What It Takes To Fight To End Cancer?

Posted on June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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Our Fight To End Cancer annual gala is just one part of the yearlong fundraising initiatives executed by Fight To End Cancer. Our Annual Boxing Gala continues to be the “Main Event” celebration of our fundraising efforts, however we are expanding our Corporate Fundraising Teams and our Community Ambassador Programs. This will open the doors to allow anyone to join us in the Fight To End Cancer.

If you’re not interested in jumping into the ring for a sanctioned boxing match, the Fight To End Cancer can still be your fight… Join The Fight

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Do you have what it takes to Fight To End Cancer?

Date: Saturday September 29, 2018

Time: 12:30 am – 2:00 pm

Location: Kingsway Boxing Club (22 Jutland Rd. Unit B. Toronto ON.)

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Register Now

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Let the Kingsway Boxing coaches and members from the Fight To End Cancer Fighter Alumni, put you through the workout of your life! This introductory boxing session will give you the opportunity to experience, first-hand, the commitment that will be required to take part in the Fight To End Cancer’s 2019 event. In addition to training, we will be holding a Q&A session lead by past FTEC Fighters.

The decision to fight for such a meaningful cause, is one that will be life changing. Whether you embark on this journey for yourself, a family member, or a friend who is, or has had to fight cancer, you are truly a hero. To better understand the challenges and commitments you would be taking on, please read through the material provided in the link below and be sure to read our news blogs.

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I’m Every Woman… | Blog Post By Shireen Fabing; Fighter, Mother and Inspiration

Posted on May 13, 2018May 13, 2018 by Shireen Fabing

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“I’ve had 5 bouts since fighting in Fight To End Cancer.  I fell in love with boxing – I think that sums it up.  Everything else stems from that –  challenging myself, pushing myself and my body and seeing/feeling myself improve daily.  Having awesome people in my corner (pun intended) in and outside of the ring and a connection with my awesome coach leading up to fights is key. Then there’s this – when my little girls says things like ‘mummy, I want to be like you when I grow up” or “mummy, you the champ’ – who can’t be motivated after that right?

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I’m Every Woman… It’s All In Me!
Blog Post By Shireen Fabing; Fighter, Mother, Inspiration

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Tell me you all can relate!  Whether it’s #Chaka or #Whitney belting out the lyrics I know you’re singing along and, if you’re like me, you get up out of your chair and dance like nobody is looking.  Am right!  Hell to the yes!

Over the last few years I’ve heard people shift from asking “how do you do it all” to “wow, you’re really making a difference,” or “you’ve inspired me to become healthier and be more active” or “you’re paving the way for others”.  It’s awesome and inspiring to hear and to say.  Let’s keep this up – myself included.

So, back to the queens Chaka and Whitney.  How am I every woman?  How is it all in me?

Pre-boxing and pre-mom – maybe 8 years or so ago.  Actually, I was already taking boxing classes but that’s not relevant here.  I worked in Sponsorship Marketing and I kicked ass at what I did.   I was consistently doing things not just outside the box but at times I was operating with my own box, taking chances and having the freedom to do so – within reason of course, not my company after all.  Sometimes they were lessons vs success stories, but I learnt lots and owned every outcome.  With that came lots of amazing perks and many, many long days and nights.  I was doing it all back then too, just a different life and while most days felt like a superwoman, I got to realize eventually that sustaining, 12-14-hour days consistently over time, had an expiry date.  I believe that I just said at one point “I need to do something else” and “I need balance” and man was it a boss move!  Liberating but at the same time I was grateful for it all.  The value of the hard work I put in back then is still priceless and today and even though my career took a different path it still comes with it’s hard work and daily challenges – I still kick ass though!

Fast forward to present day.  I still feel like a wonder woman but for very very different reasons.  Firstly, being a mother/parent is badass!  Yes, I said badass.  Unlike boxing, there is no training camp or prep work for this role and unlike my work life, current included, there is no contingency plan.   And guess what?  You must be ON all the time.  My mini is always watching us, learning, imitating and it’s amazing.  Sometimes, you want to just go with the flow, give in and take the easy way out and let her do whatever she wants….ok, I have folded but it’s very rare lol.  Anyone who knows me well will likely be nodding and grinning right now.  I was never one for the easy way out and when it comes to my most prized little human, why would I?  You put your best foot forward 100% of the time.

You make mistakes, dust your butt off and you step back in.  All parents will agree, it’s not easy all the time but it’s THE best, most rewarding role to have, period. 

At lease for me this is the case.  Making the above decision to do something else in my work life started that balancing I needed.  I will say though, when the time came a couple of years later and motherhood started, I had to learn a whole lot!  Mostly not to be so hard on my damn self.

Over to boxing.  Being a boxer is surreal.  Seriously.  Every time I prep and the week leading up to a fight I still have the “I’m really a boxer” moment.  Post-fight, same thing “wow, I just did it again”.  People ask me what’s my record is and I laugh inside.  One, because it’s small record but two “holy crap, I have a record”.  I don’t know if that feeling will go away but I like having it.  Stepping into the ring is my reward for all the hours of work I put in.  Time to showcase and time to shine!  The work that goes into this sport requires will over skill and mind over matter.  To go deeper it’s consistent discipline both in and out of the ring/gym.  Come on, learning all your punches and learning to throw them properly, footwork, head movement, take your time but be the busy one, fight your fight, off the ropes, own the middle, distance range, get in get out and the list goes on.  Plus, remembering and applying all of this during a fight is a tall order for anyone.  With all of that said, I fell in love so long ago and like being married after 20 years (for me) same feeling #cheesealert yeah yeah.

So, I was going to document how I do this all and talk about planning, having support, making many sacrifices, making the time vs not having the time etc but no.  I also got motivational quotes for days but even those won’t work unless you do.  Period.

Got passion?  Got drive?  Want something so bad you can’t stop thinking about?  It’s possible.  It’s achievable.  It’s do-able.  I am proof that it is. 

Each of the above snippets I shared I went through the motions I described.  Being new in Canada, and finally landing a job I wanted came with a hustle of temp work, volunteer work and going back to school because I kept being told “you don’t have Canadian experience” – I did what I had to do to get there and make a success.  Deciding to adopt – wow, the obstacles and the checklist that came with this one was long but, we got through it one item at a time.  Every door that got shut on us and getting twisted in red tape only made hubby and I more persistent.  We just knocked on different doors and right people eventually let us in and it’s been an amazing ride to date.  Boxing?  I’m not stopping anytime soon, so everything has to work to make The Machine work.  Not going to lie, sometimes they overlap, and I must be a little flexible with my strict regimen but that’s cool.  Mini comes to the gym with me or I do a training session at home or during lunch at work or I switch my rest days but, you make it work.  No excuses, no regrets.

It’s in my nature to fight, push harder when I’m told I can’t do something or I need this experience or take assessments to show I can be responsible for another human. 

I put my best foot forward every single time and while it’s my best foot, it’s sometimes not the right one you know what I mean?  So, you learn, you grow, and you try again.  Most of all, own your successes and your lessons.  As I grew up and older I realized that you CAN have it all – sometimes just not all that the same time and, balancing all my worlds didn’t come over night either.  Throw in regular life, family matters, kids activities, illness, injuries and other setbacks and you got yourself a full plate.  Trial and error but nonstop dedication to make it work and, it’s never perfect either folks but I try to be fully present wherever I am so I get to enjoy and take it all in.

I PROMISE I will do “a day in the life of” sometime soon but for now I’d say you must find what works for you and for your family/situation, what’s important to you, how badly you want it and to what lengths will you go to in order to achieve it.

The day I realized (one of) my purpose and said the words out loud it was clear.  I can have it all and I can be every woman and so far, I’m still kicking ass!

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Become A Fighter

Last Call For Summer Program Registration

Posted on May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

Thank you to those of you who have already registered for our Summer Programs. The addition of our High Performance Studios, allows for a wide range of people, with varying interests to accomplish any goal. Kingsway successfully runs competitive boxing programs out of the Boxing Gym, while hosting a variety of fitness, recreational and high performance athletic programs out of both locations.

We also have launched our newest athletic services at our High Performance Location which include Registered Massage Therapy.

View All Programs

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“If I Wanted, I Could Destroy EVERYTHING… But I’m A Good Girl!”

Posted on April 25, 2018April 25, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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“If I Wanted, I Could Destroy EVERYTHING… But I’m A Good Girl”
Featuring The Girls Teens Boxing Program At Kingsway Boxing Club

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Space is limited, sign up today!

Registration and Info

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After spending the Spring with these incredible ladies, we held a mini photoshoot on our last day of class so the girls could show off their some of their bad ass moves! We can’t wait to see these awesome girls, along with many newcomers in our Summer 2018 Program!

The Girls Teen Boxing Program is run by coaches Virgil Barrow and AIBA International Referee, Jennifer Huggins. After recognizing the incredible impact the sport has had on her life, she felt it was necessary to share her passion with the youth of the community.

View Full Album

New To Boxing, But No Stranger To Fighting | Introducing Zeus Sequeira

Posted on March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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New To Boxing, But No Stranger To Fighting
Introducing Zeus Sequeira

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Walking through the doors of a boxing gym is usually one of the most challenging accomplishments for the average person. Imagine entering through those doors when even standing was one of your biggest challenges. You’re about to be introduced to one of the newest boxers to our team, but he’s no stranger to fighting.

Zeus Sequeira was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy at birth due to birth asphyxiation. A 5-minute delay in getting oxygen on time led to brain damage leaving him with this diagnosis.

“It’s funny the difference 5 minutes can make. Growing up in India and going to a public schooling system in the 90’s wasn’t easy as there was tremendous stigma and lack of awareness at the time regarding disabilities. I feel it were these conditions that gave me the drive to keep pushing myself to be better.”

Zeus started walking at the age of 3 but was hunched over and his knees were bent at almost 90 degrees. A supra-major skeletal and muscular reconstructive surgery at the age of 14 gave him a chance to start over though as it straightened him up.

“I get better every week and my goal is to get my first fight by the end of 2018. In addition to doing this, I want to dedicate my journey to becoming fight-ready toward raising funds for Holland Bloorview, a rehabilitation hospital for kids with disabilities.”

Every dollar raised for Holland Bloorview goes not only to recovery and rehab, but also to programs and services centered around Music, Arts, and Family support funds (to cover added expenses related to the child’s disability).

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Zeus’ goal is to raise 10,000 CAD at the minimum over the course of 2018.

Sponsor Zeus Now

You can follow Zeus’ journey via. Instagram and Facebook

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New Location Opens Thursday Feb. 15

Posted on February 8, 2018February 8, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

Our Studio Is Moving To 3046 Bloor St. W.
New Location Opens On Thursday February 15, 2018.

We Just Broke The First Rule Of Fight Camp!

Posted on January 14, 2018January 15, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

[THE TORONTO STAR] I became an amateur boxer at 53

Posted on January 7, 2018January 7, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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[THE TORONTO STAR] I became an amateur boxer at 53

When Kate Robertson first stepped into Sully Boxing Gym, she just wanted to learn how to throw a punch. Instead she stepped out of the ring looking forward to fighting again.

View Original Article

Why Boxing Is The Best Sport… Best Said By 8 Year Olds!

Posted on January 7, 2018January 7, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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Why Boxing Is The Best Sport… Best Said By 8 Year Olds!

Boxing is one of the most enjoyable sports for people of all ages and fitness levels. Introducing the sport at a young age helps kids develop the skills and confidence they may need moving forward in other sports and everyday life!

With over 100 kids in our programs, it was extremely difficult to choose who would be the recipients of our Rising Talent Program through Boxing Ontario. With only 6 awards to present, we are proud to introduce you to our first two future champs: Michael Bahr and Dante Berni. The boys train under the tutelage of coach Phil Daniels and have shown exceptional progress and dedication to the sport!

Michael and Dante are both 8 years old and go to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Toronto. They have been Best Friends forever and have this to say about boxing…

Our Kids 7+ Boxing Programs run 5 to 12 weeks depending on the season and are focused on the technical and fitness aspects of boxing.

Space is limited, sign up today!

Program Info & Registration

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2018 Program Registration Now Open | Kingsway Boxing Club

Posted on November 29, 2017December 23, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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Dear Kingsway Boxing Family!

Our programs are filling up quickly, don’t miss out on being a part of our 2018 specialty programs. See below for program dates and registration!

2017 has been an incredible year for both the Kingsway Boxing and Fight To End Cancer families. We would like to invite you out to celebrate the year at our Holiday Bash on Saturday Dec. 23 at 8pm. RSVP NOW

Yours Truly,

Jennifer Huggins
Kingsway Boxing Club

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2018 Program Registration Now Open | Kingsway Boxing Club

Kingsway Boxing Girls Welcome Back Canadian Olympian Mandy Bujold

Posted on November 16, 2017December 12, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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THE TEEN GIRLS OF KINGSWAY BOXING WELCOME CANADIAN OLYMPIAN MANDY BUJOLD

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It is with great pleasure that we welcomed Mandy back to coach the final Girls Teen Boxing Class of 2017 on Monday December 11, 2017.

“Mandy has been a true ambassador of the sport, inspiring our boxing family and friends. Her dedication and perseverance led to achieving her ultimate dream of making it to the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has influenced athletes around the world to achieve their dreams and to step into the ring to fight for what you believe in. After Mandy attended the Fight To End Cancer (FTEC) Gala in 2016, our Kingsway and FTEC teams cheered her on as she represented Canada at the very highest level of sport”

– Jennifer Huggins

Mandy is not only a Boxing Canada Olympian, but she is a true champion in and outside of the ring. She has been an international inspiration to men and women of all ages!

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The Girls Teen Boxing Program is run by  coaches Virgil Barrow and AIBA International Referee, Jennifer Huggins. After recognizing the incredible impact the sport has had on her life, she felt it was necessary to share her passion with the youth of the community. The girls who participate in this class learn the technical components of boxing and are given an opportunity to explore their confidence in ways that will help them in all walks of life. We look forward to welcoming the girls back and opening the doors to others looking to share in the experience.

Those of you who follow Jennifer Huggins on social media, know that she was away on assignment for the Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships in Guwahati, India.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be involved with the Olympic Boxing Qualification process for Rio 2016 and now leading into Tokyo 2020. I’m honoured to visit many countries and officiate the top athletes of the sport.”

Jennifer has also had the honour of watching some of our talented Canadian boxers reach the Olympic level, including PanAm Gold Medalist, Mandy Bujold. Representing Canada over the past decade, Mandy is a true hero in and outside of the ring.

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MEDIA RELEASE: The Gentlemen’s Expo Hosts Friday Night Fights ‘To End Cancer’ – Tickets Are Now On-Sale

Posted on November 8, 2017November 8, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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Style, Grooming, Food, and Drink will now be joined by Friday Night Fights ‘To End Cancer’ at The Gentlemen’s Expo (#TGE2017). TGE has a wide variety of emerging and established brands and products, alongside celebrity guests and now a sanctioned Olympic boxing card on Friday, November 24th. All of this in one place means that tickets to Canada’s leading lifestyle event for men is an easy decision! The Gentlemen’s Expo takes over the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building from Nov 24th to 25th, 2017.

Hosted by entertainment personality, “Showdown Joe” Ferraro, #TGE2017 will host sanctioned Olympic boxing matches called the Friday Night Fights ‘To End Cancer’. Enjoy a gentleman’s sport, for the first time ever, while raising funds for an incredible cause: 50/50 raffle proceeds from the evening will benefit the Fight To End Cancer. Some of Canada’s best boxers, holding provincial and national titles, will be showcased including the Co-Main Event fights with Mark Smither and Kassandra O’Reilly – who both fought on the inaugural Fight To End Cancer card in 2012.

The five (5) bout undercard will play host to a number of local and international Olympic contenders (boxers and biographies listed below)

Tickets to The Gentlemen’s Expo are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased at: www.fighttoendcancer.com. Use promo code BOXING to save $5 off single tickets. Celebrity guests and additional attractions will be announced soon!

Help the team hit their $10,000 goal in support of the Fight To End Cancer before fight night: Donate Now

 

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Use promo code BOXING for $5 off tickets! (regular price only $25)

BUY TICKETS NOW

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The boxing kids came prepared with costumes to match their skills for a very Happy Halloween!

Posted on October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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The boxing kids came prepared with costumes to match their skills for a very happy Halloween!

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Winter Registration is NOW OPEN! With registration at capacity each season, the Kids Boxing Classes have proven to be one of our most popular programs. We look forward to welcoming the kids back and opening the doors to other children looking to share in the experience.

More Info or Register Now

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World Boxing Super Series: The Muhammad Ali Trophy and $50m up for grabs

Posted on October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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World Boxing Super Series: The Muhammad Ali Trophy and $50m up for grabs

By Luke Reddy
BBC Sport View Original Article

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The World Boxing Super Series, which launched in September, is a tournament for top fighters with $50 million in prize money and the Muhammad Ali Trophy awarded to the winners.

“Boxing has really been missing a big tournament like the World Boxing Super Series”  ~ Richard Schaefer, the former Golden Boy Promotions executive who is in charge of the U.S. side of the tournament.

Latest News: Chris Eubank Jr destroys Avni Yildirim with brutal third-round knockout

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Nine months and a simple format

View Official Site

Boxing, with its many weight divisions and multitude of belts can be confusing. The World Boxing Super Series aims to be anything but.

It will run two tournaments, one for cruiserweights and one for super-middleweights. Within each, eight men will compete from a quarter-final stage through to an eventual winner being crowned in each weight category.

Along the way, if a fighter meets an opponent who is currently a world champion, that belt will be on the line.

Quarter-finals aim to be completed by the end of October, semi-finals by the close of February 2018 and winners decided by May.

Simple then? But if you are a lover of boxing’s trash talk and heated rivalries, fear not as already they seem set to prosper in the format.

At the final news conference before Saturday’s first cruiserweight bout, Marco Huck pushed WBO world champion Aleksandr Usyk, prompting a furious Usyk to state he will “bury” his rival.

A focus on storylines and a quirky draw

Comosa AG – the company which owns the event – is an amalgamation of firms, with former Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and European based Sauerland Promotions heavily involved.

“The tournament will have so many storylines,” Kalle Sauerland told BBC Sport. “It’s not just to find a winner, it’s to generate fun and excitement through storytelling.”

And the soap opera began at July’s draw where seeded boxers, faced with their unseeded rivals, picked their quarter-final opponents.

Sauerland added: “I’ve been at events since and fighters have been talking, asking one another ‘why did you pick me?’

“Fans in boxing always ask ‘why is this guy not fighting that guy?’ “There are no politics here, eight guys, four seeded, four unseeded, the rest we let them do themselves.

“This is a project which is destined to become the Champions League of boxing. It was a big statement for us to put this event out there. I think we have over delivered in terms of fighters.”

Middleweight Brits and cruiserweight unification

It is fair to say fighters have been positive about the concept. IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale desperately wanted to enter were it not for a shoulder injury.

But four British names already feature in the super-middleweight branch of the tournament, headed by WBA champion Groves.

He faces fellow Briton Jamie Cox in London on 14 October, with the winner meeting the victor of Eubank Jr’s fixture with Avni Yildirim in Germany a week earlier.

Many in the sport were shocked Eubank picked the undefeated and tricky Turkish fighter but should he beat him and face Groves, fans could see an all-British semi-final with the WBA title on the line.

Liverpool’s unbeaten Callum Smith is seeking his own first world title shot and makes up the British contingent, getting his tournament underway against Sweden’s Erik Skoglund – who sports a perfect 26-fight record – in his home city on 16 September.

Groves is the only world champion in the super-middleweight tournament but in the 200lbs cruiserweight division, three titles should in theory be unified by May.

Latvia’s Mairis Briedis (WBC), Russia’s Murat Gassiev (IBF) and Ukraine’s Usyk (WBO) will all put their titles on the line, meaning the tournament winner will sweep the belts.

Fighting for the Muhammad Ali Trophy

The Muhammad Ali Trophy the two winners will receive was designed by the late Silvio Gazzaniga, who created and designed the Fifa World Cup trophy in 1971.

The two tournaments will boast a $25m prize fund, with the winner of each expected to rake in a haul of $10m in total across the three victories required to land the title.

Boxing does not have the choice of using a penalty shootout to decide any tournament match which ends in a draw on the scorecards, so a quirk in scoring the bouts has been introduced.

Any fight deadlocked on all three cards will see a fourth ringside judge called upon. If their card is also level, the winner of the final round of the bout progresses.

Sauerland stresses keenly that on boxing records, such a bout would still be marked as a draw. The tie-break protocol is only used to decide who progresses, not necessarily who wins.

Will ‘the most important market’ watch?

A tournament featuring super-middleweights named the Super Six World Boxing Classic took place between 2009 and 2011. While its cast was stellar, with victory being claimed by Andre Ward, its length meant the event’s momentum arguably waned.

Other incarnations of tournament formats such as the Prizefighter Series enjoyed success, with shorter fights ensuring an event could be concluded on one night.

The new competition has interested Television bosses, with rights sold across Europe. A US deal is “in the pipeline”, according to Sauerland, who last week announced ITV will broadcast the tournament across its platforms in the UK.

“I think it was one of the biggest deals in British boxing history in terms of scope,” he added. “Make no mistake about it, the UK market is now the most important in the world.”

Some of the fights will be free to air, while others will be pay-per-view. Unlike some traditional fight deals cut in the UK, fighters will not receive bonuses for pay-per-view sales and will be rewarded through already agreed appearance fees and prize money.

“We have invested a lot of money to try and not be too like boxing,” added Sauerland. “If you look at Wimbledon, would Roger Federer get a bonus because Swiss TV paid extra? He’d get prize money, like fighters will here.”

Those backing the Super Series hope to roll the tournament out across more weight divisions with time. Saturday night, when Huck meets Usyk in Berlin, could be a first step in returning professional tournament boxing as a mainstay.

Jake ‘The Raging Bull’ LaMotta Dies at Age 95

Posted on September 21, 2017September 21, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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Jake LaMotta was not a great champion but one of the toughest, a boxing beast

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Jake LaMotta should have been in Las Vegas to watch Gennady Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Álvarez, two distinguished middleweights pitched together to echo the deeds of the division’s glorious past, a fight reckoned to restore boxing’s faltering image. LaMotta, who knew a lot about the game’s sullied reputation, would have given it a wry smile.

The fight did not quite do its job. It was a terrific rather than a truly great contest and dreadful misjudgment by one of the officials overwhelmingly in favour of Álvarez returned a split draw, drowning out all other post-fight sentiments. So, unfairly but inevitably, Golovkin-Álvarez will be remembered only slightly more fondly than the theatrical crossover fight in the same ring three weeks earlier between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor.
To rinse away the taste of that farce, LaMotta’s was a name the promoters raised in the week before GGG-Canelo. He was lauded alongside Sugar Ray Robinson, his nemesis. They spoke, too, about the later Sugar Ray – Leonard – and Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns and Roberto Durán. They hoped the past might gild the present. Maybe their memories were selective.

LaMotta, the world middleweight champion from 1949 to 1951, was not ringside on either night but seeing out his final days in a nursing home in Florida. If asked, he could probably recount the night he threw his fight against Billy Fox in 1947 to get his title shot against the charismatic Frenchman Marcel Cerdan two years later – and how he lied about the fix for 13 years. He had bowed to the arm-twisting of Fox’s influential gangster manager, Blinky Palermo, but never properly cashed in on being world champion.

He defended the title twice before running into Robinson for a sixth and final time. Then he got fat, fought on for three years, losing four and drawing one of 10, knocked down for the only time in his career, but quitting on his stool twice. His best years were in the 1940s, as a foil for Robinson and terroriser of lesser opponents. He was not a great champion but he surely was one of the toughest, a boxing beast.

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The fine details of his brief reign and the denouement are not always absorbed in recollections of his career, mainly because one of the greatest movies of all time painted him in classically Shakespearean mode, a doomed victim to fear then pity. Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull simultaneously rehabbed LaMotta’s standing as a middleweight champion and exposed the essential ugliness of his personality. But his boxing was not the real story.

As Scorsese told the New York Times when the film finally started making noise after its release in 1980: “Those who think it’s a boxing picture would be out of their minds. It’s brutal, sure, but it’s a brutality that could take place not only in the boxing ring but in the bedroom or in an office. Jake is an elemental man.”

Scorsese did not say that as something to be proud of but a fact foolish to ignore. Chuck Palahniuk said something similar when I asked him about his exploration of elemental maleness in his book Fight Club. What the filmmaker and the author shared was a fascination with the glamour of violence.

Not a lot about LaMotta’s life appeared glamorous, apart from his seven wives, perhaps, the second of whom, Vikki, appeared in Playboy. The last to indulge him was Denise Baker, who was 30 years his junior and by his side when he died of pneumonia on Tuesday, aged 95.

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They met in the famous Manhattan bar, PJ Clarke’s, in 1993, married two decades later and they shared a stage in a short theatrical rerun of his life that she co-wrote and directed, called The Lady and the Champ. It contains LaMotta’s glib take on his many marriages: “My first wife died from eating mushrooms. My second wife died from eating mushrooms. My third wife died of a skull fracture. She refused to eat the mushrooms.” The production got worse reviews than LaMotta’s fight against Fox.

Mrs LaMotta VII told the celebrity gossip site, TMZ, this week: “I just want people to know, he was a great, sweet, sensitive, strong, compelling man with a great sense of humour, with eyes that danced.”

He was all of that – and he was less as well. He went to reformatory school for attempted burglary (never a good look on the CV: attempted); he beat a bookmaker nearly to death and left him for dead, he was serially cruel to his wives, at least some of the early ones, he got six months on a chain gang for introducing men to underage girls in his Miami nightclub, he got bit parts in movies and he recycled his life in a standup act, the centrepiece of which was the On The Waterfront “I could have been a contender” monologue that formed such a poignant closing to Raging Bull.

I was not alone in discovering that, to get an interview, the going rate was whatever he felt like asking for on the day. For all his admirable fighting deeds, LaMotta knew well enough that, if it were not for the book and the movie, the life he led would have been as tough to sell as those of his less famous contemporaries.

As Don King says, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.

Jake LaMotta Obituary Read more

Nicola Adams To Make Pro Debut On One Of The Biggest Fights Of 2017

Posted on September 13, 2017September 13, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

Nicola Adams to make US debut on blockbuster Alvarez vs Golovkin undercard

View Original Article | The Telegraph UK

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Nicola Adams, the double Olympic boxing champion for Great Britain in London and Rio, is to make her US debut in Las Vegas this September, facing Hungary’s Alexandra Vlajk on the blockbuster Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez versus Gennady Golovkin card at the T-Mobile Arena.

“Every boxer dreams of fighting in Las Vegas one day and to be doing this as part of the biggest boxing match of the year is going to be incredible,” said Adams. “It’s great to be fighting three-minute rounds again as this made a big difference in Leeds and I’m hoping for a similar outcome this time.

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“My training has been going really well with Virgil Hunter and the team at SNAC. I can’t wait to get in the ring on 16th.”

Frank Warren, Adams’ promoter, said: “This is without doubt THE boxing event of 2017, and I am delighted that Nicola has the chance to showcase her skills on such a huge bill. Canelo v Golovkin is among the very best fights to be made in the last decade and for Nicola to be part of it is brilliant for her and women’s boxing.

GGG vs. Canelo: Fight Of The Decade?

Posted on September 8, 2017September 8, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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GGG vs. Canelo: Fight Of The Decade?

View Original Article | Boxing News 24

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By Gavin Howie: The September 16 super fight between Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is around the corner and the odds between the 2 fighters are getting closer and closer.

It is not a common thing for a fighter to move up in weight to take on, and defeat a unified champion. Even more difficult when that challenge is against such a dominant and experienced middleweight in GGG. When you look at each of the fighter’s toughest fights, Canelo could perhaps have a few more loses on his record than he has. The Erislandy Lara, and Austin Trout fights were very close decisions. Golovkin’s most difficult fights most people say were his most recent encounters with Kell Brook, and Danny Jacobs. Yes, he did not look his usual self, but still won both fights, still showed he has the power to hurt and got the wins. I believe his performances have dropped slightly in his past 2 fights, are due to him being frustrated at not getting his big fight against Canelo, after so many let downs over the years.

Canelo vs GGG – Online PPV Promo from Golden Boy Digital on Vimeo.

These fighters leave little to the imagination in terms of how they fight. Canelo likes to fight in bursts with quick combos and looking to counter. He also struggles to fight for the full 3 minutes of every round. Golovkin likes to come forward, doesn’t mind taking a punch or 2 so he can land his own, and is relentless for the full 3 minutes of each round. The only time Golovkin has swayed from this usual strategy is when he is aware his opponent is a notable heavy hitter. His recent fights against David Lemieux and Jacobs are testament to this, where he will instead use his ring craft and boxing skill, and utilize his jab to take control of the fight that way. Still he has the same energy for the full 3 minutes of every round and can carry his power late. The stoppage of Martin Murray in round 11 shows he still has that power late on if needed.

Read Full Article

The 3 Key Elements To Becoming A Superhero – Secrets From The Boxing World

Posted on September 2, 2017September 2, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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The 3 Key Elements To Becoming A Superhero – Secrets From The Boxing World

Article By: Jennifer Huggins | Owner, Kingsway Boxing Club

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Since discovering boxing at 16 years of age, my perception of the world has completely changed. Though I pride myself on living an extremely diverse lifestyle, much of the success that I’ve had in business, sport and even my personal life, is a direct result of the training that I’ve developed from my involvement in boxing. Over the years, I have found myself in the role of the boxer, coach, judge and referee. The sport has not only impacted me personally, but I’ve watched boxing transform peoples lives. Children have walked through the doors of my gym, too scared to make eye contact – after ten minutes they’re throwing punches and smiling directly into my eyes. I have worked with the CEO who has never even walked up a flight of stairs, later become a legend in the boxing ring. I’ve witnessed the boxer who has lost every round of a fight, manage to find the strength to stop their opponent in the last 10 seconds of the last round.

If there’s one thing boxing has taught me, it’s that there is a superhero in every one of us. I feel so fortunate to be in a sport that accelerates this discovery of our inner strength.

It’s my opinion that when people realize their own personal power, and are encouraged to apply it to everyday interactions, life has no limits! I have made it my life mission to share not only the sport of boxing with the world, but also to help people use the sport to better themselves. Below are the three elements that I truly believe are the key to releasing the superhero within all of us.

You don’t need to be a boxer to live life like a champion!

View 3 Key Elements Now

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REGISTRATION OPEN: 2017 Fall Kids & Teen Programs | Limited Space!

Posted on August 23, 2017March 18, 2018 by Jennifer Huggins

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REGISTRATION OPEN: 2017 Fall Programs | Limited Space

All Kids, Teens and even Adult Fall Boxing Programs begin in the third week of September. Space is limited, sign up today!

Register Now

ATTENTION PARENTS: We’re also searching for our 2018 Fight To End Cancer Corporate Team! If Boxing has been on your bucket-list don’t miss your chance to step into the ring for a sanctioned boxing match! More Info

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Boxing is one of the most enjoyable sports for people of all ages. Introducing the sport at a young age helps kids develop the skills and confidence they need moving forward in other sports and even in everyday life. With registration at capacity each season, the Kids, Teens and Girls Boxing Classes have proven to be our most popular programs. We look forward to welcoming the kids and teens back and opening the doors to other children looking to share in the experience.

The Specialty Boxing Programs run 10 to 12 weeks depending on the season and are focused on the technical and fitness aspects of boxing. We include a free access membership to the Boxing Gym location (22 Jutland Rd. Unit B. Toronto ON) for the duration of the program.

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All Kids and Teens Fall Boxing Programs begin in the third week of September. Space is limited, sign up today!

Register Now

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Deal Is Close For Super-Fight Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux on Dec.9

Posted on August 22, 2017August 22, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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Deal Is Close For Super-Fight Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux on Dec.9

View Original Article
Article By: Chris Williams

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Vasyl Lomachenko, who’s performance overshadowed the main event as an undercard on the Mayweather vs. Pacquao fight in 2015, is close to reaching a deal with Guillermo Rigondeaux – arguably two of the best boxers to come out of amateur olympic boxing!

WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux could be facing each other on December 9 on ESPN at Madison Square Garden in New York. Lomachenko’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank let Dan Rafael know about a deal that he has in place for Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) to face super bantamweight champion Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs).

There’s no word at what weight the fight will take place and how much the 36-year-old Rigondeaux will get paid. However, there has been talk of Rigondeaux receiving $500,000 for the fight, which if true is a considerably less than the $750,000 offered to former 2 division world champion Orlando Salido to fight Lomachenko.

”Lomachenko’s next fight is supposed to be Dec.9 at NSG Theater on ESPN. Arum said he has deal for opponent. I’m told it’s Rigondeaux. #boxing,” said Rafael on his social media site.

This is outstanding news for the boxing fans that have been waiting for years to see these two former 2-time Olympic gold medalists finally face each other. Fans have wanted to see Lomachenko and Rigondeaux fight each other since the two of them turned pro. It’s good that the fight is finally about to take place after all this time. If Rigondeaux beats Lomachenko, it’s going to be a huge major blow to Arum, who sees Lomachenko as the next best skilled fighter he’s seen in boxing since Muhammad Ali. Arum might need to revise his lofty expectations for Lomachenko and place him behind Rigondeaux.

Lomachenko might be moving up in weight soon to the lightweight division. If he does that, it would be crazy for Rigondeaux to have to move up 3 entire divisions just to take the fight with him. As it is, Rigondeux is going to have a tough time dealing with the weight advantage for Lomachenko. But, if Rigondeaux is willing to take that risk for the payday, it’s still a great deal.
As skilled as Rigondeaux is, he might still beat Lomachenko and expose him in the same way that Salido did 3 years ago in their fight in 2014. Salido showed that Lomachenko can’t take body shots. Salido almost exclusively targeted the body of Lomachenko during their 12-round fight. Lomachenko spent most of the fight clinching excessively. One judge unbelievably gave the fight to Lomachenko. It sad scoring. Boxing News 24 scored the fight 9 rounds to 3 in favor of Salido.

Lomachenko is coming off of a 7th round stoppage win over Miguel Marriaga earlier this month on August 5 on ESPN from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Lomachenko fought like he was bored most of the fight, and it was not an impressive performance from him. His power was less than remarkable for the super featherweight division.

Lomachenko appears to be still punching with the power of a featherweight or even super bantamweight. He’s definitely not a puncher. He’s more of a tapper.

Rigondeaux recently stopped #1 WBA Moises “Chucky” Flores in a 1st round knockout on June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The results of the Rigondeaux-Flores fight were later overturned and changed to a no contest due to Rigondeaux having knocked Flores out with a punch thrown after the bell. Initially the referee Vic Drakulich ruled that the punch was a legal one. The Nevada State Athletic Commission chose to reverse the decision of the referee and changed the results to a no contest.

Mayweather Not Focused on Surpassing Marciano’s Mark of 49-0

Posted on August 20, 2017August 20, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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BoxingScene.com: Mayweather Not Focused on Surpassing Marciano’s Mark of 49-0

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KNOCK-OUT END OF YEAR SALES | KINGSWAY BOXING CLUB

Posted on December 3, 2016January 2, 2017 by Jennifer Huggins

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Our programs are filling up quickly, don’t miss out on being a part of our 2017 specialty programs.

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LEGENDARY CANADIAN BOXING COACH, ADRIAN TEODORESCU, SUCCUMBS TO CANCER | TORONTO SUN

Posted on December 1, 2016December 1, 2016 by Jennifer Huggins

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Legendary Canadian boxing coach Teodorescu, 73, succumbs to cancer

BY STEVE BUFFERY, TORONTO SUN (View Original Post)

FIRST POSTED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016 07:41 PM EST | UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016 09:12 PM EST

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NOVEMBER 19TH | TWO FIGHTERS, FIGHTING ONE FIGHT TO END CANCER

Posted on November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 by Jennifer Huggins

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SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2017

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MARIELA BURKETT’S EXCLUSIVE SURVIVOR BOOTCAMP AND JOSH O’REILLY’S 7TH PROFESSIONAL FIGHT 

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DEFEAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

That is the motto of every person who dedicates their time and energy to the difficult battle we face against cancer every day. Every single person is affected by cancer in some way, and each person has their own way of fighting it. Sometimes they’re fighting in the most literal sense of the word, like Fight To End Cancer’s very own Josh O’Reilly. He took to the ring at the 2012 Fight to End Cancer gala and is now fighting cancer at a professional level, training hard, and boxing with one important cause at heart.

You don’t need to be a professional boxer to join the fight. Mariela Burkett, a cancer survivor and champion of fitness, has taken a different approach to her fight, by raising money through annual and semi-annual Survival Bootcamps, and her Buck-A-Burpee campaign. Every single person has a different story to tell about how their lives have been affected by this terrible disease, but everybody has one thing in common, the instinct to fight it.

The Fight To End Cancer means something different and every individual’s fight is important and valuable. People like Josh O’Reilly and Mariella Burkett are teaching us that there are infinite ways to fight cancer, and with everything that they do they show us that Defeat Is Truly NOT An Option.

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Tickets For Josh O’Reilly

Who: Josh O’Reilly is a local fighter hailing from Hamilton, Ontario. He fought in the 2012 Fight to End Cancer in honour of his late grandfather. He was also fighting in honour of his boxing coach, Bob Wilcox, who tragically lost his 7-year-old son, Robbie, to brain cancer. Josh O’Reilly continued to Fight To End Cancer long after his match in 2012 ended, and now, nearly five years later, he is fighting at a professional level. Although this will be O’Reilly’s seventh professional fight, he has been fighting at an amateur level for over a decade, and has an impressive 101 amateur fights under his belt.

Why: O’Reilly will be donating a percentage of his earnings to benefit this important cause. Come out and see a great match, and help fight to end cancer in our lifetime!

Where: The fight will be held at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario

When: Come and see the match on Saturday, November 19^th from 7:00pm-11:55pm

Tickets: Buy Now

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Tickets For Survivor Bootcamp

Who: Mariela Burkett is not only a cancer survivor, she is a cancer fighter. Mariela has been cancer-free for 2½ years, and spends most of her time combatting the mental and physical struggles that individuals and their families endure following a cancer diagnosis. Mariela is taking a unique approach to fighting cancer by hosting Survivor Bootcamps annually and semi-annually to raise money for her cause. She is a certified coach, personal trainer, and fitness instructor. Mariela has also begun an exciting campaign called the Buck-A-Burpee Campaign, which will run from now until the end of May. For every dollar donated to her campaign she will do one burpee. Her hope is to complete 10k burpees by May. She will be posting all of her burpees onto her Instagram: @fitmariela so be sure to check out all of the hard work she’s been doing for this campaign so far!

Why: The goal of the bootcamp is to help raise funds for cancer patients and their families while bringing awareness to the battles they face every day. Participants in this workshop will be given the opportunity to test their physical strength and mental focus, all while benefiting an amazing cause. 100% of proceeds will go to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation!

Where: The workshop will be held at Northstar Montessori School in Mississauga, Ontario

When: The hour-long class will take place on Saturday, November 19^th 2016 from 9:00am until 11:30am

Tickets: Buy Now

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For more information on both of these events you can contact Jennifer Huggins at jennifer@fighttoendcancer.com or 416-666-9314

SHIREEN ‘THE MACHINE’ BRINGS HOME THE WIN FOR TEAM KINGSWAY!

Posted on October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 by Luis Parades

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Shireen “The Machine” Victorious Last Weekend!

Written By: Luis Parades
Friday October 28, 2016

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The crowd was on fire and Team Kingsway was out in full force as Shireen “The Machine” Fabing headed to the ring! If you recognize the name, it’s because Shireen is a Fight To End Cancer alumni who fought in 2013, she’s also a regular at the gym. You can see her almost everyday putting in time to conditioning, technical training or sparring in preparation for her fights!

Last Saturday in Mississauga, Shireen took on a strong opponent from Oshawa representing the Motor City Boxing Club. This was a highly anticipated rematch for both women! In their first encounter last year, Shireen won a close decision! They were both hungry for the win going into this fight, however it was Team Kingsway who took home the win!

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 “Stepping into the ring last week… it was the same overall feeling I get each time – Let’s do this! The work is in, you made every training day count and now is the reward for all the sweat and hours you put in.”

The bout started off with both women testing each other out, trying out combinations as each landed and missed. Shireen was matching her opponent shot for shot as she kept her distance. As the bell rang marking the end of the first round, Shireen walked back to her corner where her coaches were right there waiting to give her the instructions she needed for the next rounds.

“Someone asked me if I felt pressured that they were both there but i actually felt so honored and lucky  that they both were there.  If anything, it calmed me down but fueled the machine at the same time if that makes sense.”

The crowd was going wild in the Don Kolov Arena as both boxers put on a great show!  Team Kingsway cheered loudly, with 30 plus KBC’ers and FTEC alumni out to support Shireen! With the team behind her, she took the match to her opponent. Her combinations were landing as she weaved and avoided her opponent’s punches.

“I think I had the biggest support group there.  Most of them witnessed the training too and a few of them were my sparring partners during training camp.  I was happy to be able to put on a good show for them and appreciated all their cheering and coaching from the crowd.”

Shireen was dominating in each round as she headed into the corner before the third and final round. With the final instructions being given by Coach Virgil, Shireen was ready to close out the bout. Once again “The Machine” went back to work and took over the round, landing a large percentage of her jabs and crosses. All the training at the gym was clearly paying off as she again took her opponent to the edge!

“I gave 110% and worked the entire time each round and followed my game plan.  That said,  as human beings we’re our worst critics and I only want to improve and better myself so yes, for sure, there are things to tweak and clean up that we’ll work on for the next fight!”

The final bell rang, both women gave each other a big hug as they knew they both left it all in the ring! The official held both boxer’s hand as they waited for the decision.  After a few moments of anticipation the announcer proclaimed Shireen the winner by unanimous decision! Team Kingsway erupted in cheer as Shireen’s hand was raised in victory!

If you’re interested in training like Shireen does, the Kingsway Boxing Club offers many different programs that focus on teaching the sport of boxing in a safe and fun environment! Make sure to visit our program’s page for more information!

 

Go Team Kingsway!