Whizbang Boxing owners Shelley and Shawn Desautels want to see more opportunities in the Interior for local athletes to compete in the ring.
The Salmon Arm couple plan to make this happen starting with their first event, the BC Interior Series, Amateur Boxing, set to take place at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, Oct. 12.
"We鈥檝e been wanting to host events and stuff just to be able to bring experience to our fighters and other fighters in the area," said Shelley, explaining they just purchased a ring to do just that. "So we鈥檝e called this the Interior Series. It鈥檚 to encourage other B.C. Interior boxing clubs to come out for some more fights."
Shelley explained numerous amateur boxing events are held in the Lower Mainland throughout the year, whereas the Interior sees less than half a dozen.
"We鈥檙e hoping to have at least three events so there鈥檚 more opportunity for our fighters to get experience," Shelley explained, adding she and Shaun would also like "branch out," taking their ring to neighbouring communities to host events.
For the Oct. 12 event, the plan is to get a dozen matches throughout the evening, a mix of amateur and exhibition fights. Participating boxers must be part of a club sanctioned and registered with Boxing BC. It will be an all ages event, with food available by Anastasia Kaye and Steve Best and their Between the Bread food truck and, for adults, beer from Ricochet Brewing and cider from Shuswap Cider Co.
The Shuswap Children's Association will have a 50/50 draw at the event and will at least benefit from that.
"They鈥檒l receive some of that and鈥� if we make $2,000 and above, they鈥檒l also get 10 per cent of the profits from our event," said Shelley.
Tickets for the event will be limited to 150, with seating for up to 80.
"We actually had the benefit of setting up our ring in (at Song Sparrow Hall) just to make sure everything was good to go," said Shelley. "We we saw the space and how it works. And yup, it鈥檚 going to feel like a busy event."
The Desautels also have advertising spots and packages available which will help them cover the cost of hosting the event.
The couple opened Whizbang Boxing, located at 101 Hudson Ave., in May 2022.
For more information and tickets, visit whizbangboxing.com.
