As first-timers at the Boxing Canada national championships, Thunder Innis and Josh Greenwood had tough roads ahead of them.
Both had their journeys cut short. The two members of Inner City Boxing PG lost their opening bouts on Wednesday night in Calgary.
Innis, 17, took on Quebec’s Josue Kouie in the U19 80-kilogram category. While Innis gave Kouie all he could handle, he ended up on the wrong side of the decision. Inner City and Team B.C. coaches Kenny Lally and Jag Seehra said Innis proved he belongs at the national level.
Innis entered the fight with an 8-1 record, while Kouie is a two-time Canadian champion.
Greenwood, 19, squared off against Ontario’s Jackson Cook in the U23 70kg division. In that bout, the six-foot-two Cook used his reach advantage to hold off Greenwood’s attack and land shots of his own. Greenwood kept trying to find a way inside, but, ultimately, the referee stopped the fight and declared Cook the winner.
“Josh fought his best but it was not our night,” said Lally and Seehra. “We’re so proud of this kid.”
Greenwood took a 6-6 record into the ring, while Cook started the night at 14-10.
The national tournament is being held in conjunction with a Canada Cup event. Sixteen-year-old Inner City boxer Koehen McLeod will fight in the Canada Cup on Saturday against B.C.’s Illia Gordiy. The winner will take home a championship in the U19 60kg division.
