Casal's gym to host fight card

Sports

July 29, 2011

By Nate Beutel Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Fri Jul 29, 2011, 10:33 PM EDT

— — With a new gym, comes a new opportunity for Ray Casal. The veteran boxing trainer will host Fight Night at Casal’s Boxing Club at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20.

The amateur card will feature 10 to 14 bouts between fighters from Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, Rochester and Canada. Seating in the air conditioned gym is limited to 250 spectators.

“We want to bring boxing back strong again in Niagara Falls,” Casal said. “This is good for the community. People loved when we used to do shows (at the old Winter Garden) and to be able to do one in our gym for the first time is really exciting. It’s going to be a fun night.”

The main event will feature a rematch between Michael Glavin of Casal’s and Christian Colon of the Buffalo PAL. The tandem knocked heads earlier this year in a bout Glavin won, despite being knocked down in the first round.

Other fighters from Casal’s expected to be on the card include A.J. Winstanley, Dominic Sirriani, Mike Vega, K-Shawn Agee and Deion Harris. In addition, there will be three fighters from Thunder Boxing in North Tonawanda, including Niagara Falls’ Matt Ventry. Niagara Falls police officer Paul Jackson and Niagara Falls resident Antonio Smith, both fighting out of Victory Gym in North Tonawanda, will also be on the card.

“We’ve got some really good fights lined up,” Casal said. “It’s mostly seniors, guys that are experienced and pretty darn good.”

Awards will be given to the winners and Casal will present a Fighter of the Night in the name of longtime area boxing booster Cliff VanEpps. Cataract city professional boxer James Ventry will be the ring announcer and concessions will be available.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Casal’s (1766 Maryland Ave.) or by calling 990-3112.

“We can only fit 250 in the gym and we’ve probably sold almost 50 already, so people should really hop on these,” Casal said.

“It’s an exclusive ticket really and you’ll see some really good boxing. I’m already excited.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Sports

Search Results

Casal's gym to host fight card

Site Map

Contact Us