Olympic Hopefuls Take to the Ring Tonight at Continental Championships

CORNWALL, ON, April 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Ten bouts will mark the first night of competition at the 2012 Women's Elite Championships in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The event gets underway at 7 pm eastern, at the NAV Centre, 1950 Montreal St. in Cornwall.

A total of 53 boxers in ten weight divisions will compete at the Championships. There will be 43 bouts throughout the tournament with ten finals on Saturday. You can tune-in and watch all the action over the internet at: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Womens_Elite_Continental_Championships__April_4/1447.

Two tournament favourites to watch for on the opening night of competition are three-time World and Pan American Champion, Canadian Mary Spencer, 75 kg, and from the United States, currently ranked fourth in the world Queen Underwood, 60 kg..

Spencer boxes Alma Nora Ibarra from Mexico, while Underwood takes on Erika Cruz also from México. 

"We had a very balanced draw where practically no favourites face in the early rounds. This time preliminary bouts could end be finals for the quality of the boxers," said American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) President Domingo Solano.

Every boxer competing in Cornwall has been training hard to get ready for the competition. The Continental Championships will serve as a good gauge of the boxers preparation as they get ready to compete for a spot in the 2012 London Olympics next month in China.

"Boxers will use this tournament to build momentum for the World Championships and Olympic Games." Said Dr. Christy Halbert, President of the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Women's Commission 

Bouts will take place nightly beginning at 7 p.m, with the finals on April 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available from Boxing Canada at 1-613-238-7700 or Champs Eastside Boxing Club at 1-613-938-3281. Cost is $25 for the week or $15 for a daily pass.

The Continental Championships will feature a strong field of boxers from the Americas vying for spots to the 2012 London Olympics at the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateure (AIBA) Women's World Championships from May 9-20, 2012 in Qinhuangdao, China. Twenty-four spots in three weight categories will be contested. The 2012 London Olympics will mark the first time female boxers will compete at an Olympic Games.

Please note media accreditation is required for entry into the Continental Championships. 
Media inquiries:  Francis Beaulieu, Project Manager, Boxing Canada
1-613-866-3442 / [email protected] / 1-613-238-7700, ext. 221