Mighty Mike

WESTVILLE?- Mike McGrath got his fight.
Out of the four Pictou County boxers who won provincial titles in Truro on Saturday, he was the only one who had to actually enter the ring and battle for the right.
The Westville Academy boxer competed in the 69 kg class winning the championship by a score of 21-12 over Adam Krzyski.
McGrath had Krzyski down in round two and had him pounded into two standing eight counts in the fourth round.
This is the third time that McGrath has won at provincials, but the first time he's had to fight for it. Other times there were no competitors in his category.
"I'm really happy that I actually had to fight for it and won it," he said. "To get a walkover at provincials - anybody can do that. Anybody can go in and have nobody else to fight and call themselves provincial champions."
He's not one of them.
Now he will be putting his focus on training for nationals which will be held Feb. 23 to 27 in Halifax.
"I never thought I'd be doing that, going to nationals and stuff," he said.
Although he's been there before, he knows this time he's going because he earned it. And he feels confident that he'll do more than just make an appearance this time.
His coach, Tom Davis, said he fully expects McGrath to come home with gold.
After that the 16-year-old has global aspirations.
"If I win nationals, next year I have the chance to go on international trips if they choose me."
Other boxers who claimed title wins by walkover were Albion Boxing club members Evan Peel, Shauna Wright and Erin Simpson. A walkover occurs when no competitor in a boxer's weight division shows up.
"You never know until you go to the provincials whether there's competition in their division," said Albion Boxing Club coach Jim Worthen.
Peel was able to pick up a match against Sydney Mines boxer Tyler Ongo for experience.
He lost a 15-14 decision.
It will be up to Boxing Nova Scotia to decide whether the three boxers have the experience to make it to nationals.
"I think that all three of them will be approved," Worthen said. "They're all boxing well and they're all good experienced boxers."
Westville Academy's Dukus Davis, Travis Leil and Giselle LaBrash also competed at provincials but lost their matches.
Davis fought Dartmouth boxer Artie Cousins in the 91+ kg class. Final score was 18-15. LaBrash lost her match 17-9 and Leil, 14-8.