Medicine Hat boxers ready to fight at the Nieman/Page Memorial this weekend

Included are seven local boxers ranging in ages from 12 to 16.

Some are even getting their first-ever fight.

Medicine Hat Boxing Club Head Coach Kerry Fahlman said the club has a very competitive group.

“[Our] most standout boxers right now would be young Jacob Walne, Nate Vossler, Asher Softic [and[ young Tavin Booker is coming along pretty good right now,” Fahlman said.

“There’ll be some younger kids that are going to, [over the] next couple of years are going to be doing well,” he added.

“We got two boys going to the nationals this year. Good shot at winning, both of them.”

Asher Softic, a provincial champ, will box in this event ahead of nationals in March.

He already stands almost six feet three inches at 14-years-old.

Softic has won all 11 of his bouts in his year and a half in the sport.

He competes in the 80 kilograms Junior C category.

Softic’s style is using his reach to keep opponents away with his jab, then hammering them with his right hand.

He said coming to boxing and having his coaches support him gives him motivation to push through his training and stay disciplined.

“Helped me kind of like manage my anger and it just was great,” Softic said.

“I liked whenever I joined when I first stepped foot in the boxing club. I was like super hyped,” he added.

“I found that this was my place to be like all the time and I really enjoyed it.”

Sixteen-year-old Nate Vossler normally competes in the 60 kilogram Youth Open category.

He’s a provincial champ who will also compete at nationals.

Vossler has fought over 30 time over his three years boxing and was a gymnast prior to getting in the ring.

His style is mainly straight punches, but he likes to surprise guys with hooks, and isn’t afraid to go toe to toe with opponents and stand in there.

Vossler will be fighting a familiar opponent he has beat once before.

“Yeah, I’m pretty excited for this one,” Vossler said.

“Everyone is pretty excited for this one. It’s usually a pretty big deal around here for my friends and family,” he added.

“They like to come down and support and like to tease me about it a little bit, you know, better not lose Nate.”

Jacob Walne, 14, has boxed in 26 fights over four years and won 15 of them.

He moved to Medicine Hat from the United Kingdom when he was four.

He fights in the 54 kilogram Junior Open category and is a provincial champ.

He will be fighting the same boxer he fought in his first-ever bout at the event, an opponent he’s beat twice.

Walne said when it comes to his parents, you can tell one enjoys watching more than the other.

“Dad likes it. My mom, she kind of watches behind her fingers,” Walne said.

“[She] still shows up though. So, lots of support. Very loving.”

If your want to see these kids in action and cheer them on, bouts begin Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. There is also an evening fight card at 7 p.m.

Sunday fights start at noon.

All fights are at the Medicine Hat Lodge, for the first time.

Individual fight card tickets are $20 each or $40 for the entire weekend. Tables of eight are $350 for the entire weekend.

For more information, contact Kerry Fahlman at 403-529-7686.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat boxers ready to fight at the Nieman/Page Memorial this weekend

Our Community