Summer was a nice break, but school’s back in session, and Rick Rae and his students of the sweet science mean business.
Genesis Boxing and Fitness was a busy place Wednesday evening, as the a full team turned out to mark the start of a five-week training camp leading up to the club’s first tournament slated for the Mainland in November.
Rae, the club founder and driving force, said there are about 20 returnees from last year and three new members. Looking down the road, Rae said the club is also working towards competing at the provincials this year in Nanaimo.
Rae’s boxing classes are broken into three age gropes — 8-13, 14-18, and 20-plus. The club is open to males and females, and the boxers don’t have to compete. Rae said he has two 17-year-old girls showing up regularly, “and of course we have Tiger ... she’s 11 now,” he said, referring to young firecracker Baylee Kivela who has been an active member of the club since it opened.
Beyond the competitive boxing, Genesis continues to offer Boxersise classes, personal training, advanced weight training ...” and a huge variety of other types of training including dryland training for team sports.
“It sure does,” Rae answered quickly when asked if feels good to be back at it, pointing out a few of the boxers kept right on training through the summer, and that showed in the ring Wednesday during a couple high octane sparring sessions.
Pounding the bejeezus out of the heavy bag when we were there was Marcos Segui, 14, who is back for his second year with the club, and looking forward to picking up where he left off.
“I enjoy boxing, and it’s a good workout,” he puffed when asked what brought him back, adding, “Rick’s a good coach ... he makes us challenge ourselves.”
“Absolutely,” Rae shot back when asked if he’s looking forward to the season ahead. “I’m excited. There’s a lot of talent in that little club.”
Rae by the way will be looking to build on a terrific first year. Genesis Boxing burst onto the scene last year when they won 17 of 22 division at the BC Bronze Gloves held at Oceanside Place, and won seven out of nine divisions entered at the BC Emerald Gloves in Mission, where Brandon Busby, 21, fighting light heavyweight, earned Best Bout honours as well as being named the Emerald Boy as the top fighter of the tournament. Genesis was named Best Club, and they also broke a number of records, both with Boxing BC and Boxing Canada for sheer numbers entered and by the number of wins versus number of entries.
For more information on Genesis Boxing and Fitness call 250-248-5511 or email genesis@telus.net.