United Boxing Promotions has set the stage; a year of boxing fans paradise, right here in Canada

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

What can I say, I am addicted to the drama of it all. With each punch, the outcome of the fight changed. I watched as two evenly matched fighters went head-to-head; the tension was almost unbearable. Watching Saturday night’s boxing match was a rollercoaster of emotions…

Boxing is a sport that stands out from the rest for many reasons, and it is why on February 25^th, 2023, the CAA center was buzzing and alive. United Boxing Promotions has once again set the stage for a year of what is going to be seen as a boxing fans paradise, right here in Canada.

I believe that some people misunderstand the reason for boxing’s popularity and why people like myself love the sport so much. Some may see the sport as violent, but there is nothing about boxing that is related to violence or anger; it is quite the opposite.

Boxing is watching two individuals control their anger and violence. This sport is about training one’s body, testing one’s limits, and reaching peak performance. On Saturday, I watched two individuals turn their bodies into weapons, and this is what excites boxing fans.

It was a stacked night of fights, and I came just in time to see Jamaican boxer Gregory Miller face Drake Olchowecki. Gregory took a disappointing loss to Drake; although Miller was nimble enough to avoid the majority of Drake’s punches, it looked like he lost steam in the last few rounds.

The next fight between Daniel Roach and Antonio Scaringi had the crowd on their feet. It was like watching a chess match, with both fighters employing a strategy that utilized their strengths against their opponent’s weaknesses. Both fighters moved around the ring and executed punches and defensive maneuvers with speed and precision. Daniel Roach walked away with the victory, but no knock on Antonio. Overall, it was an impressive fight.

The fight between Sara Haghighat-Joo and Mayela “La Cobrita” Perez could have easily been the main event. These intense warriors came with their all on Saturday, and Sara was determined to give her fans an excellent performance. What I appreciate the most about Sara is her impeccable timing. Timing is what has elevated Sara from a good boxer to a great one. She has the unique ability to use her foresight to predict the direction and movement of her opponent. Although Mayela put up an excellent fight, Sara was the aggressor and walked away with the decision.

Finally, the main event between Josh “The Boss” Wagner and Xhuljo Vrenozi was everything that it was hyped up to be. Wagner came with all of the fire dominating the fight from beginning to end. He threw every punch with the intention of causing damage, and he mentally dominated the fight. Speed was Wagner’s advantage on Saturday night; it exposed Vrenozi’s weaknesses, and Wagner was able to display a combination of accuracy and power. It was no surprise when Wagner’s hand was raised at the end of the fight.

There is a reason why I am such a huge fan of United Boxing Promotions; not only do they satisfy my boxing appetite, but they are now doing something that is near and dear to my heart; providing Jamaican boxers an opportunity to live out their fighting dreams.

On Saturday night it was announced that United Boxing Promotions reached a promotional agreement with Jamaican former Continental Middleweight Champion Kemahl “The Hitman” Russell.

A product of Kingston, Jamaica, the electrifying Russell (13-1, 11 KO) is ready to return to the ring with a vengeance following a hiatus from the sport.

“I’m excited to sign Kemahl, he’s one of the best boxers to come out of Jamaica in recent years,” Tyler Buxton shared with me.

That’s right boxing fans; on April 29^th, 2023, at Pickering Casino Resort, there will be two Jamaicans on the fight card: Heavyweight Champion Ricardo “Big 12” Brown, and of course Kemahl “The Hitman” Russell.

I want to see all the boxing fans in the community out supporting our island’s talented champions. For more information on tickets, you can visit unitedpromotions.ca and I am looking forward to seeing you all there!