Professional boxing is returning to Victoria this Saturday (June 3) with a card full of international and local fighters.

Several past Olympians will be in the local ring, as well as amateur boxers who are hoping to make it to that stage, like VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 own female flyweight Terris Smith. On the menB次元官网网址檚 side, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Braydon Blazina and VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Tua VaB次元官网网址檃 will also be stepping into the ring.

Victoria heavyweight Brandon Colantonio was on the amateur side of the card before turning professional last year and has found the transition to be one that suits him.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檓 meant for the longer fights and all the extra rounds. I think amateur was kind of like a sprint instead of a marathon and IB次元官网网址檓 more meant for a marathon,B次元官网网址� he said.

Jason Heit, who coaches Colantonio, told Black Press previously that the challenges boxers in Western Canada, particularly B.C., face in finding fights are extensive. But Colantonio says turning pro has helped negate those.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e like a free agent all the time right now, you can pick your contracts and everything is compensated. A big thing with amateur was I couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to B次元官网网址� hard as I worked and all that B次元官网网址� I couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to go on these really cool tournaments and get more experience because I just couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford it.B次元官网网址�

Colantonio added that events like the one on Saturday, put on by HeitB次元官网网址檚 company Champ Promotions, should be a boon for B.C. boxing.

The event is happening on Saturday at the Victoria Conference Centre, in partnership with the Victoria Hospital Foundation.

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