Reigning Pan Am Champ leads Team Canada boxers to TO2015
Feature: Ariane Fortin, right (Lewis Images)
Hot from the ring: Boxing Canada announced 10 athletes to compete at the Pan Am games, including defending champion, Mandy Bujold.
The Oshawa Sports Centre will host the Pan Am boxers from July 18 to 25. Canadian athletes hooked, jabbed and uppercut their way into the final roster in early June at their qualifier in Tijuana, Mexico.
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Mandy Bujold, right (Boxing Canada)
Not only did Guadalajara 2011 mark the inaugural inclusion of women’s boxing at the games, but Canada’s Mandy Bujold (51kg) knocked out the competition and took home the title. Bujold’s successful streak continued as she made the quarterfinals at the 2014 World Championships and won silver at the Pan Am qualifier in Tijuana earlier this month.
Team Canada’s international success is also highlighted by 2014 World bronze medallist, Ariane Fortin (75kg), currently ranked third in the world. Fortin also secured a silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, while Samir El Mais (91kg) captured the gold medal in his division.
Arthur Biyarslanov, right (Lewis Images)
The remaining roster of Pan Am-bound boxers are Arthur Biyarslanov (64kg), Clovis Drolet (75kg), Sasan Haghighat-Joo (69kg), Simon Kean (+91kg), Kenny Lally (56kg), P.G. Tondo (49kg) and Caroline Veyre (60kg).
Leading up to the games, Canadian athletes will prepare in Oshawa, sparing with other national team members from July 9 to 18. (Get tickets).
