Looking for a fight

WESTVILLE?- Dukus Davis wants a fight.
The Westville Academy boxer has been to the provincial boxing tournament six times, but only once has he had to fight for the right to go to nationals.
As a 6'7" super heavy elite senior in the 91+ kg class there aren't exactly a lot of people who are in the same category as him and fewer still qualified to get in the ring with him.
This Saturday though, he hopes one will appear as he and three other boxers represent Westville at the provincials in the Truro Agridome.
He's heard someone is supposed to be there.
"I hope he does show up," Davis said. "It's better than just walking into the ring and getting a medal and being a Nova Scotia Champion. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win it, but it would be fun to fight for it anyway."
His goal is to go to nationals once again where he will compete for perhaps his last time as an amateur boxer.
He knows there will be no easy fights.
"It's pretty serious," he said. "Once you get to my age category it's more their job then a hobby."
He has won gold, silver and bronze at the national level before though and knows he can do it again.
Another boxer looking for a fight is 16-year-old Mike McGrath who is competing in the
69 kg class.
McGrath has been the provincial champ for the last two years in his division. But he too didn't have to fight for the chance to go to nationals. This time he hopes it's different.
"There should be somebody there," he said.
He has fought the boxer who he's scheduled to go in the ring with four times all ready and has won three of those bouts, so he's confident he has the ability to win again and go to nationals. There, he'll be able to build on his past experience.
"This is a big year for Mike in that if it's meant to be that he wins a provincial and national title it would mean some International trips for him in 2010," said Westville Academy coach Tom Davis. "Mike has really improved his boxing skills this year with his confidence in himself and showing his true boxing ability that he has acquired over the last few years of training and competition."
Giselle LaBrash has never fought at the Nova Scotia provincials before, but she did go to them twice in Saskatchewan, where she was living for several years. Once she had a fight the other time was a walk over.
This year she will be competing in the 75 kg female senior novice class. She knows she will have a fight this time around. She and the opponent met in an exhibition match last month, so she also knows a bit of what it'll take to win.
That doesn't mean she doesn't get nervous though.
"As soon as the bell rings, though it's pretty much gone," she said. "You're just nervous up to that point, but I just need to channel it and think of nothing but having my hand put up in the air."
Travis Leil is a newcomer to the provincial boxing experience.
He will be competing in the 57 kg cadet C class.
"Travis is just coming out of his shell and if he so desires to make it happen this year it will happen," coach Davis said. "Travis is a talented young man and he has the potential to do good things in boxing, and this year is just the beginning."
Although new to provincials, Leil does have experience in the ring and said he is not nervous during matches.
"It's good," he said. "I like it."
But then so do they all - they all love a fight.