A pair of Vernon boxers lost close decisions at the Hit-to-Fit Card Saturday at the Westgate Public Market in Salmon Arm.
Kyle Muratoff of Vernon tangled with James Motchula of the Calgary Southpaw Club in a welterweight (150 pounds) bout.
“This fight was a barnburner,” said Vernon Boxing Club coach Brian Jones. “Kyle is a very young, slick fighter who dominated James in round one, knocking him down once and bloodying him up. The second round was a total slugfest. It went back and forth with hard blows being landed as both young men were bleeding by the end of the round and it was hard to tell who won that round.
“Kyle fought hard in the third round but James outpounded Kyle, taking the last round and the decision on the judge’s scorecard, but it could have been anyone’s fight as I had it even.”
Brett (Ouch) Murray fought Joe Sigalet of North Vancouver in the heavyweight division.
“Ouch seemed to dominate the action on the outside but lost the decision on the inside, the fight being won and lost on the ropes with Joe outmuscling Ouch there in a tough, very technically fought battle,” said Jones.
Sigalet, fighting for the Griffins Club, has had 10 amateur bouts. Murray has fought three times.
Mayor Nancy Cooper defended the key to the city in the ring against Salmon Arm’s Bulldog boxing coach Peggy Maerz in a celebrity match.
The event featured 14 bouts with each athlete raising funds for a local charity.
About 200 people, all dressed to impress, attended to cheer on local residents who had signed up to get in the ring.
The event was about more than going head-to-head with a competitor, instead the focus was on fitness and fundraising, with around $15,000 raised for local charities.