18 — T H E C I T I Z E N . P r i n c e G e o r g e — T h u r s d a y . M a y 25. 1978 BIG FIGHT, DINNER CARD HERE SUNDAY Prince George's best boxers are little guys Z Big things come in little packages Sid is the only Prince George athlete The proof may be seen by watching Both have benefitted from the experi­ One of the most exciting fighters in the his fights in the novice 178-pound categ­ * should be the motto of the Prince George ever on Canada's Olympic team and this the fighters in the ring. ence. club is Adam Lee. This crowd-pleasing ory. Lions' Club. year he won Golden Glove Champion­ Laurie is a “thinking fighter” who is Brian, a 16-year-old Grade 10 student slugger has used his tear-the-head-off Lazar went on to lose a close decision For the club's best boxers tend to fight ships in Alberta. British Columbia, and great at anticipating an opponent's at Prince George Senior Secondary style to win four of five fights this year in to the games heavyweight champion at the lightest weights. Tacoma. Wash., in the 119-pound class. moves, then countering when a mistake School, has won all three of his fights the 147 and 156-pound categories. during a special bout after the games. And they have lots of victories to The distinctive styles of both are tes­ is made. this year, including an upset’victory The three club dreadnoughts are He will fight Alberta and British Col­ prove it. timony to the coaching philosophy of His ability to fight from both the over highly-rated Steve Gallagher. middleweight Mike Winterholt and umbia light-heavyweight champ Shane Take Laurie Mann and Sid McKnight club coach Harold Mann. southpaw and orthodox stance is an as­ His distinctive “stand-up” style is light-heavyweights Ken Egan and Brad Anderson during the seven-bout card for example. “Everyone has his own style and we set. since it is tough for an opponent to another contrast to the crouching ap­ Lazar. Sunday in the Civic Centre. Laurie returned from Toronto this never try to change it.” explains Mann, adjust to. proach taken by most other boxers. Winterholt won several fights this week as the Canadian intermediate who is helped with his coaching by Meanwhile, Gary Serko. a 15-year-old year, including a gold medal in the The fights start at 1 p.m. and tickets 119-pound champ. Gerry Burton. Wayne Sponagle and Dan Sid is a southpaw boxer-puncher with Grade 9 student at Lakewood Junior Northern B.C. Winter Games in his 165- may be purchased for $5 at the door. In a bout earlier this year, he defeated Denis. a hard straight left-hand. Secondary, is the perfect example of the pound category. A special dinner banquet after the a boxer who went on to win the Ameri­ “We try to improve on it by teaching At the receiving end of both fighters’ standard crouching style. Egan won one fight and lost another fights will be held at the Inn of the North. can Athletic Union featherweight technique and the fundamentals of box­ styles in the gym are Brian Wise at 125- He’s used it to win five of six fights this by decision in the intermediate 178- Tickets are S30 a couple for both the championship in the United States. ing.” pounds and Gary Serko at 132 pounds. year in the 132-pound category. pou0 d category, while Lazar won both fights and the dinner.

Adam Lee learns proper way to wrap hands from Gerry Burton, as Ken Egan watches.

The standard description of boxing as the "manly art of self-defence” takes on a special meaning at the Prince George Lions’ Boxing Club. For proper defence is the first skill taught by coaches at the club. Defensive boxing basically has two parts. The First is a variety of skills to avoid getting hit while the second conforms to the time-honored adage of a good defence being a good offense. The latter is heard most often in training when a Father Gerry uses criticnl eye for son Marty. fighter is trapped in a corner or on the ropes and is told to " your way out of it." By throwing u flurry of punches when trapped, a boxer can surprise his opponent and get enough time to get out of a bad position. But defensive boxing is mostly a matter of avoid* ing punches. A skilled and experienced fighter can do this by "" punches or moving his head slightly to the side to avoid being hit. Most amateur fighters arc without this special Boxers come In all sizes as Marty Burton and Brad skill and huve to rely on keeping their "hands up" Lazar show. in the proper defensive position around the head where an opponents punches are "picked o ff by the glove. The body above the waist is protected by a fight* ers arms and elbows which are kept close to the sides. P h o to s b y It is illegul to hit an opponent below the waist. D a ve M iln e Scoring rules in amuteur boxing, in contrast to , encouruge the use of skill rather thun power. This is done by counting each clean blow as one- third of u point irregardless of how hard it lands. S to rie s b y Thus a powerful punch that knocks un amateur Jo h n P o p e boxer down in a fight is counted the same as u less powerful job. Both score one*third of u point.

Briun Wise tries a left on hund pads held by coach Wayne Sponagle.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING OUTSIDE RING He's not just another 10-year-old Marty Burton is proof that looks can For those who might associate a when he kept winning, because I thought be deceiving. hook, and with crocheting, he might not know what it really means On the surface, he appears to be just this means he can snap his left fist out to be a winner.” like any other 10-year-old. in good fashion, before following it with He likes bikes, “cowboy guns" and a straight right hand. “But he took it (first loss) well and stuffed animals - a monkey named In other words he has mastered the said he would do better next time.” Joey and a pet ape called Finnegan. basic skills of a sport that has given him The next time will be this Sunday, 1 He cries when he’s upset and hasn’t 12 victories three by two by ‘'discovered” girls yet. technical knockout and only two deci­ when Marty fights Jamie Ivers from But the similarity ends when the 54- sion losses. . Richmond, during a seven-bout card at ipch, 59-pound Grade 4 student steps into But, as often happens in boxing, it is the Civic Centre. an 18-foot canvas-covered square ring. the losses that were really the victories. In the meantime, he runs a mile to ; This is when the mouse roars. One was to the U.S. National Champ­ his elementary school in College • This is when the hands that shoot mar­ ion, a veteran of 77 fights, during the Heights, works out in the gym at night bles become fists that swish through the Vancouver Golden Gloves this year. and eats lots of his favorite “steaks and air. He went into the fight a year younger spaghetti” food. ! And his ability at this early age and seven-and-one-half pounds lighter rjiakes him a top prospect for a Canadian than his opponent. Immediately before 3 fight, he prac­ championship. And what does his mother think? tices the transcendental meditation “Marty's just learning to left hook,” “I don’t worry because I know he will taught to him by his father for about explains his father Gerry, the former be protected by the rules and the equip­ 15 minutes. lightweight boxing champion of eastern ment,” explains Sharon Burton, who (panada, who has 28 fights as a pro. has been watching Marty fight since And once he steps into the ring: “I • “But he’s got a good left jab and right he was seven. just think of winning, never knocking tiross." “The only time I was worried was them out.” Laurie Mann spars with father Harold, as grandfather Irving Mann Sr., watches.