5 Ontario men will live a dream these next two weeks, as they travel to Niger, Africa to represent Canada in boxing at the Francophone Games. The Games, held every 4 years, plays host to countries and regions that have French as a common language. They were held in Ottawa in 2001 and will be in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2009.
10 boxers left on Sunday to represent Canada, with 5 of them hailing from the trillium province. They are:
48kg – Philip Butler, McGrory’s Boxing Club
57kg – Clay Dales, Motor City Boxing Club
64kg – Jonathon Bochner, Atlas Boxing Club
75kg – Richard Reittie, Sully’s Boxing Gym
81kg – Glenn Hunter, St. Catharines Amateur Boxing Club
The Games commence December 7, with boxing beginning on the 8th and concluding on the 16th. Our boxers return December 18. In a recent TOP TEN Questions interview, Richard Reittie was excited for his trip to Niger. “I can’t believe it. It’s like ‘man, I’m going to box in Africa.’ Never in my life did I think I would get to go there. I am really looking forward to it …. I really want to represent Canada well.”
Best of luck to the Canadian Team at the Francophone Games!
