TRENTON, N.S. – The Albion Boxing Club will send a contingent of fighters to the national championships April 23-27.
Boxers Matt Fraser, Carson Scholes and Tivor Stewart will catch an early-morning flight on Easter Sunday and head to Victoria, B.C. to compete at nationals.
For Fraser, recently named by Boxing Nova Scotia as boxer of the year, it will be his third appearance at the tournament. He won bronze in 2017 and a gold medal a year ago. Earlier this year, he fought – but lost – in a bronze-medal match at the Canada Games, which were held in Red Deer, Alta.
Scholes and Stewart, however, will both be making their debuts at the Canadian championships.
Club president Jim Worthen has been to nationals on 25 occasions but won’t be making the trip this year. He said it’s important fighters not let themselves be overwhelmed by the event.
“As hard as it is, because it’s such a big stage – as big a stage as they’ve ever been on – but you have to treat it like any other fight,” said Worthen.
“If they let their mind get carried away, they’ll have the ‘deer-in-the-headlights look’ before the fight even starts.”
Albion Boxing Club assistant coach Walter Linthorne is a first-time coach with the Nova Scotia contingent.
“Our boys are ready to go. I don’t see Matt not winning gold,” Linthorne said this week at the club’s gymnasium in Trenton.
“And Carson and Tivor have a really good chance at medalling. It’s their first time, and they’re ready.”
TIVOR STEWART
Hometown: Trenton
Age: 16
School: North Nova Education Centre
Grade: 10
Weight Class: 49kg
Boxing: Four years
Amateur record: 9-2
Quote: “I think it’s gonna be a great experience. I’m not scared – I’m a little nervous, but I think it’ll be a fun time.”
CARSON SCHOLES
Hometown: Abercrombie
Age: 15
School: North Nova Education Centre
Grade: 10
Boxing: Three years
Amateur Record: 4-1
Weight Class: 42kg
Quote: “I’m just going out there and I’m gonna fight. I’m not really nervous about the whole thing. I’m going to be aggressive, try to control the fight as best as I can.”
MATT FRASER
Age: 17
Hometown: Antigonish
School: Dr. J.H. Gillis High School
Grade: 11
Boxing: Three years
Amateur Record: 25-6
Weight class: 49kg
Quote: “This is my second year as a youth. There’s a lot of juniors coming up and I think I’ll have a lot more experience, so I’m really confident. I obviously want to defend my title and I’m pretty confident in what I can do. I like to force the fight, and go after them. I’m not a stand- back kind of guy.”
