GM Ross – The March 6, 2010, GYM Promotions Montreal Casino fight card will be joined by a Calgary pro-am card the same evening, injecting some much needed action into Canadian pugilism after a two week lull in events. The Calgary show is under the management of Eric De Guzman of Teofista Promotions, who has arranged for Canadian lightweight prospect Steve Claggett to defend his undefeated record against newcomer Walter Linthorne, of Westville, Nova Scotia, at the Bowness Sports Plex. Fans will recall that Claggett scored an impressive first round TKO victory over Mike Maley, of Missouri, just over two weeks ago in Edmonton, stretching his undefeated record to 6-0-1. A win Saturday night will place Claggett on a collision course with Logan McGuinness, of Orangeville, Ontario, and/or Tony Luis, of Cornwall, Ontario, for the now vacant lightweight championship of Canada..
Although Claggett is undeniably the favourite – given his professional experience and sparkling record– it would be unwise to underestimate the man across the ring. Although this is Linthorne’s debut as a professional, the bluenose boasts a notable degree of amateur experience. In order to learn a bit more about the Nova Scotian rookie I contacted the folks at Westville Boxing Academy in Westville, Nova Scotia, who kindly put me in touch with their townsman. Linthorne graciously divulged the following information regarding his amateur career. He has fought a total of 65 amateur bouts, amassing a record of 45-20. He dominated amateur boxing in his home province, winning the Nova Scotian title an impressive ten times. At the national level, Linthorne earned a silver medal in 1995 and a bronze in 1996. He also holds a bronze from the Gaelic Youth Games, and appeared in the 1995 Canada Winter Games in Grand Prairie, Alberta.
Linthorne is the most recent addition to an impressive list of professional boxers hailing from Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Indeed, Westville and its neighbouring townships are famous for producing tough, talented fighters such as Art and Lawrence Hafey, Barry Sponagle, Buddy Daye and Jackie Hayden, to name a few. If Linthorne comes out with the grit and determination – that “it ain’t over til it’s over” attitude – we’ve come to expect from this region’s pugilists, the fans – and Steve Claggett – could be in for a dandy of a fight.
The other professional fight slated for the Bowness Sport Plex on March 6 is a light middleweight affair between Ted Reno of Calgary and undefeated Stuart McLellan of Williams Lake, British Columbia. Fans can also expect loads of action via five amateur bouts consisting of the following:
Cadet B 119lbs novice
Jason Lamont (Teofista) vs Ethan Yellow (Wings)
Senior 152lb Open
Brett Enns (Dynamite Boxing) vs Matt Scott (Red Deer Boxing)
Senior Female 119lbs Open
Jeni Snell (Teofista) vs Kirby Fahlman (Kelowna Boxing Club)
Senior 152lbs Novice
Roxie Lam (Teofista) vs Chad Jones (Red Deer Boxing)
Youth 152lbs Open
Omar ‘the Uzi’ Mazouzi (Teofista) vs Darren Orubar (Impact Boxing)