Canadian boxers visit Inverclyde
BOXERS from Canada were given a warm welcome to Inverclyde ahead of a show in Greenock tonight, Friday 23 May 2025.
Provost Drew McKenzie hosted a team of young competitors and coaches from Bluewater Boxing Club in Ontario at the Municipal Buildings this afternoon for a reception before they stepped into the ring for a boxing show in Greenock Town Hall this evening.
There were also boxers from other Canadian clubs, including Bramalea Boxing Club, Pinnacle Boxing Club, Beaver Boxer Boxing Club, and Champion Boxing Club.
The Canadian contingent were invited to Inverclyde by Greenock Boxing Club as part of a long-standing friendship with Bluewater.
They have spent the past week training with their hosts at Crawfurdsburn Community Centre and taking in some local and national sights and attractions.
Young fighters from Inverclyde and Canada will test themselves against each at the boxing exhibition in the town hall later.
Ahead of the show, they were invited to lunch with the provost in the Grand Corridor before being given a tour of the historic Municipal Buildings in Greenock.
Provost McKenzie said: “I thoroughly enjoyed welcoming representatives from Canada to Inverclyde and to the Municipal Buildings.
“It’s a wonderful friendship Greenock Boxing Club has with Bluewater and affiliated clubs that allows the boxers and coaches to discover different cultures, explore new places, and, of course, test themselves against international opposition in the ring.
“Boxing is such a beneficial sport, especially for young people, by promoting active lifestyles and teaching important values such as discipline and respect.
“It was a pleasure to welcome to Inverclyde our Canadian friends and I hope to see some of them again in the future.”
It is not the first time a Canadian contingent have made the journey to Inverclyde having visited on a number of occasions in the past.
They have also returned the gesture by hosting boxers and coaches from Greenock Boxing Club over the years.
Head coach Danny Lee said: “We are delighted to continue our long-standing friendship with clubs across Canada.
“Bluewater hosted us in 2019 and we had arranged to return the favour but unfortunately Covid got in the way.
“However, we made a promise to bring them to Scotland and we finally got it over the line.
“This show is a testament to the progress the club continues to make, I’d like to thank our sponsors for their ongoing support and the Burke family for their unwavering commitment to the club.”
The team are spending a week in Inverclyde from Monday 19 May 2025 to Sunday 25 May 2025.
The trip was organised by Greenock Boxing Club with the support of Boxing Alliance Scotland.
As well as exploring the sights and attractions of Inverclyde, the Canadian camp also visited places including Edinburgh Castle and Loch Lomond.
For more information about Greenock Boxing Club and the show in Greenock Town Hall tonight, visit the Greenock Boxing Club Facebook page.
