They’ve coined it the Thrilla at the Villa for a reason.
Boxing returns to Burnaby this Friday with a card of hearty matches, including amateur and professional pugilists entering the ring.
For promoter Dan Norman, it’s not so much about the hype as it is about the opportunity.
“I’m really excited to help put this together,” said Norman, whose company Alliance Boxing Promotions has done the legwork for this eight-bout event at Burnaby’s Grand Villa Casino.
“We’re all excited but nervous at the same time. This (Grand Villa) location is perfect as far as we’re concerned – not in the suburbs but not downtown. It’s a new venue (for boxing) altogether.”
The main event features professional fighters José De Jesús Macías, with a 24-9-3 record, facing Jesús Rojas (11-6-2).
“(Macías) is an experienced boxer and Rojas has shown he’s very tough. They’re well matched,” Norman said of the potential eight-round bout.
Olympic medalist and Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame member Dale Walters is expected to be on hand.
The night’s slate also includes three other pro matchups, and begins at 7 p.m. with the first of four, three-round amateur fights, starting with lone female bout betwen the Sunshine Coast’s Angela Cantarutti and North Van’s Nyousha Nakhjiri.
“We have a lot of talent in B.C. on the amateur side but there’s not many chances to show it. That’s why we’re so happy to produce this show,” Norman said.
The schedule -- which due to injuries and weight class issues, is tenative until just before the bout -- also includes heavyweights Chris Bond of Surrey against the Okanagan's Aaron McKitric; Bryan Bazinet of Alberta against Vancouver Island's Brandon Colantonio; and middleweights Markus Banek of Alberta against Johnathan Hannah of North Van. The pro card features: Chad Thrun against John Dubois, Julian Kim vs. Jesus Manuel Beltran, and Aman Aujla and Eduardo Valencia Aguilar.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets, which start at $40, are available at https://bit.ly/2YKabvn.
