It was standing room only when the first bell rang, signaling the beginning of the fights. By seven o’clock, 450 spectators had poured into the Kalispell Eagles Club before the doors were closed for the first time in history because of lack of space.
The much-anticipated event?
The annual Rocky Mountain Showdown, an invitational boxing smoker back from a two-year moratorium.
“The tournament was absolutely wonderful,” said the president and coach of Eagles Boxing, Michael Kelly. “First time ever the doors were closed. Ever.”
The smoker also left a favorable impression on sophomore fighter Candice Thornton.
“It was hard watching my teammates get bloody,” Thornton said. “But the best part was the crowd chanting my name. The tournament was so awesome.”
The smoker, a one-on-one event, consisted of 20 bouts, or matches, that ran about three hours total. Seven competitors from the 22 members in the Kalispell Eagles Boxing Club weighed in, six were matched. Five of the boxers are FHS students. The smoker was part of a series of tournaments in which boxers compete during the winter months.
“Boxing is sort of an annual sport,” said Kelly. “The season is pretty much tournaments and training from October to March.”
Kelly’s involvement in the sport stems from his daughter, senior Rachele Kelly. She is currently the Region Ten Champion in the 132 lb. weight class — a title she has successfully defended for three years. Three months into Kelly’s now three-year boxing career, she won her first Regional crown.
“I love the workout you get from boxing,” Kelly said. “Having to spar your own teammates is hard, but you know you have to do it to make your workout and yourself better.”
Kelly’s victorious opponent in the smoker was a 33-year-old woman who plans to turn pro next year.
“Her arms were like, as big as my neck,” said Kelly. “I was pretty nervous when she walked into the ring.”
It comes as no surprise, then, that Kelly counts defense as one of the most important aspects of boxing.
“Quickness is very important,” she said. “You have to know how to get out of the way and how not to get hit.”
Thornton renders the mental side of boxing the most important.
“Being mentally tough and having quickness and stamina are all important,” she said. “But if you’re not thinking, you do things that cut down on your quickness and stamina, so staying focused is the most important.”
For Thornton, began boxing only weeks ago, the outcome of her match was bright.
“Yeah, I won,” she said. “I waled on the girl.” |
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