Maissoneuve wins a slugfest
Dylan Maissoneuve’s game plan went out the window Friday night in front of a packed house at the Niagara Legends Boxing Show at the Merritton Community Centre
The 20-year-old member of the St. Catharines Boxing Club was matched up Bramalea’s Eric Delmonte in a fight pitting the two winners of the elite open 75-kilogram division at the provincial championships from this February. Because there were so many fighters in the weight category, the provincials were split up into two divisions.
“I wanted to box but I ended up swinging for the knockout,” Maissoneuve said. “I wanted to put on a good show, make a bunch of noise and I ended up making the best of it.”
Maissoneuve, who won the provincials with a first-round stoppage of a former gold medalist at the International Sport Karate Association and World Association of Kickboxing Organizations’ world championships, ended up winning a unanimous decision over Delmonte in a battle that was awarded the Fight of the Night. Delmonte gave as good as he took in one of a number of highly entertaining bouts Friday night.
“I went in there to have a fun time and it ended up being kind of a war,” Maisonneuve said. “We both kept swinging and I got a little bit tired during the fight but I punched my way through it and came up with the victory.
Next up on his schedule will be the Brampton Cup in July which is the biggest tournament in Canada. He has already won his division at that event three times.
“I am going back to the club and I will keep training hard until the next fight,” he said.
Maisonneuve returned to boxing in 2021 after a three-year absence with the goal of winning nationals and one day becoming a member of the Olympic team but the COVID pandemic TKOed the first goal.
“I would love to have gone but sadly there isn’t any nationals this year,” he said.
He would have loved to have tested out his abilities, but that day will come soon enough.
“I am becoming stronger overall, more quick with my hands and I am becoming more boxing smart,” Maisonneuve said.
In other bouts featuring the winners of their division at the provincial championships: Top Gloves’ Austine Bayani recorded an unanimous decision over Stockyards’ Jose Valdez in a 57-kilogram fight; and, ABomb’s Tiago Baltieri stopped Top Glove’s Matt Cooper in the first round of a heavyweight tilt.
In other fights: City’s Jack Costantino stopped Border City’s Awksteen Yousif in the second round of a 65-kilogram fight; St. Catharines Boxing Club’s Phoenix Young scored a 2-1 victory over Bramalea’s Luca Carvalhais in a 48-kilogram bout; Nappers’ Jameson Barr pounded out a unanimous decision over Enhanced’s Ibrahim in a 68-kilogram fight; St. Catharines Boxing Club’s Lucas Owens fought his way to a unanimous decision over Bramalea’s Yaser Amerkill in a 60-kilogram fight; and, Blands’ Kenny Morawski stopped Kingsman’s Nick Reid early in the first round of a 68-kilogram fight.
St. Catharines Boxing Club members taking part in exhibition fights were Regina Marin, Katie Lamb, Jeremy Cowan and David Shirley,
Inducted Friday night into the Niagara Boxing Legends were Val Ryan, Greg Black, Shawn Conlon, John Conlon and some old dude.
