Below the Belt Boxing Magazine - Issue 36

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TABLE OF CONTENTS The DO Youth Boxing Scholarship - Namer Khalil 2019 Brampton Cup Champion - Gloria Lim

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Princess of Sound Guitar Purse Raffle

A Champion From The Ring Supports A Champion In Life

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16 2020 Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame Inductees Boots On The Ground - Helping First Responders

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20 Dameon Okposio, The Keyser Soze of Canadian Boxing Each issue is $5.00 Canadian. Add $2.00 for postage if mailed within Canada.

No subscription available.

Last issue #35 featured: - Boxing coach and brand ambassador Tyrone Bradshaw on front cover and featured inside.

- 2016 Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame - 2017 Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame - DO Youth Boxing Scholarship recipient Shandi Jamieson - much more

Cover Design: Cinimodfx Cover Photo: Mark Ruddick Magazine Design: DO Media Publisher: Dameon Okposio Editor: Dameon Okposio Writer: Dameon Okposio Contributing Photographers: Mark Ruddick Noor Abdel-Raziq Pete Doherty Contributing Writer: Gloria Lim Melissa Sharpe

Contact us: Dameon Okposio 14-30 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 286, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5R 0C1 Cell: 647-224-2199 Email: okposio@hotmail.com Web: http://dameonokposio.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/dokposio LinkedIn: Dameon Okposio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dameonokposio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dameon.okposio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DameonOkposioBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Belowthebeltboxing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theontarioboxinghalloffame

Article & Photo provided by: Gloria Lim

It was the ugliest fight I’ve ever been in. There were moments when it was boxing, but other times it looked like we were brawling. The whole fight was chaotic.

These were my first thoughts after my bout in the finals. All I could think about was how horrible it must have looked.

A year ago, I was at the Brampton Cup watching an amateur boxing tournament for the first time. It was also the first time I had ever seen a boxing ring up close. A year later, after a year full of experiences, learning, sweat and hard work, I won gold in the Female Elite Novice 57kg category. I was not the same girl as I was before, and I have learned something new about myself every time I step out of the ring.

*2019 Brampton Cup took place February 1st-3rd, 2019*

I entered the 2019 Brampton Cup with seven fights. I took home the win in both the semi-finals and the finals. I was happy to bring home the gold medal representing SpecialT Boxing out of UFC Gym Mississauga. But these two fights were completely different.

It’s the people you are up against that can either bring the best or the worse out of you.

My coach, Tyrone Bradshaw, says that the truth comes out in those moments in the ring when everybody is watching. It’s different for every person in the ring. For me, I live for those raw moments when my mind is on autopilot and training kicks in.

My ninth fight was like no other.

I didn’t realise how my mentality had changed when I was up against the girl in finals. It was as if she had a fire in her burning like I have never seen before, and in turn I wanted to match that. I respected her flame, but some of that flame touched mine and changed the way I boxed.

Before it was a competition to challenge our skill set, then it became a fight to see whose flame burned stronger.

Maybe it was the circumstance, where we both were going for gold and wanted to prove that one wanted the win more than the other. I respect her for that.

It was chaos. Our exchanges continued after the referee called for a break. We were grappling a lot, I almost hit her in the back of the head when she turned to the referee, and she had me in a headlock at one point. There were times when I had to check myself to see if I was holding and punching, which is against the rules, and I was happy that I did not break that rule when I looked back on the recording of the fight.

I had been training differently for this tournament compared to the previous ones I had been in. I learned along the way how to train at the rate that brought me the most benefit while keeping injuries at bay. I walked into the tournament going for gold, but also knowing that anything could happen. After reflecting on the fight, I am very grateful for the people on our team like Jamaal Richer, who has a background in MMA. Our Sunday trainings has made me familiar with certain styles that I might come across in the ring. This has prepared me to always be on my guard, and not panic when my opponent boxes in an unconventional style.

It was one of my goals at the beginning of this year to win a tournament before entering the open category, and so it was a win that I wanted intensely. I secured the win, but maybe I could’ve done it differently - by being more attentive to coach’s advice during the match. It was a win, but not a fight that I would celebrate because I struggled to follow Coach Tyrone’s instructions at one point when he was yelling the same thing over and over. I was so caught up in the moment that I could barely hear coach yelling. In between rounds I find myself checking to see if I was actually listening. There are things I could have done better, and that is only if I had listened like I had in the semi-finals.

The first thing I said to coach after I took out my mouthpiece was “That was fire”. I can hear his laugh clearly in the recording, but that was the truth.

What does a win mean to me? It means executing the moves I’ve been working on, and most important of all - following the instructions coach is yelling out from the corner. I have learned everything I know about boxing from Coach Tyrone. I knew nothing about boxing two years ago. During my first time in a boxing class, my gloves barely made an impact on the bag and I can remember coach standing at the side of the bag telling me to HIT THE BAG HARDER. I look back now and laugh at how I tried my best to punch harder, but it was a pretty pathetic punch at the time. It has been about 19 months since I’ve started boxing as I write this, and if my life had two chapters it’d be split into life before and after boxing because so much has changed.

The person I have to thank most of all is my coach, Tyrone Bradshaw. He is a man with a big heart. He absolutely loves the team. He pushes us but does not break us, and understands how we all have a life too, outside of boxing.

Winning this tournament has been a dream come true, and it would not have been possible without Coach Tyrone’s support and instruction. This is a great journey and I am forever grateful that our paths have crossed in this life, as I was born and raised in a country on the opposite side of the globe. Brampton Cup 2019 has been an amazing experience, and I am so lucky to be able to call Tyrone Bradshaw my coach. BTB

PRINCESS OF SOUND

Guitar Purse Raffle Proceeds to

DO BOXING SCHOLARSHIP Article & Photos provided by: Melissa Sharpe

Melissa Sharpe AKA The Princess Of Sound has had an amazing career as a DJ and host for 20 years. She loves life and her fashion sense is edgy.

Ever since she sported a guitar shaped purse designed and handmade by her mother in 2014 , the positive response was overwhelming. Melissa decided to go into the purse business and says, “It has been quite the journey. I have had the honor of meeting people from all walks of life.” The Guitar purses have been on the runway at Hamilton Fashion Week where Melissa met models, fashion designers, photographers and magazine editors whom she is still friends with today.

Her guitar purses travelled and sold at numerous music stores across Canada including the Hard Rock Cafe Gift Shop in Niagara Falls.

They have taken Melissa to the largest concerts , music festivals & midways in the Country. She met Rockstars & Celebrities. She also has collaborated with EK Art in a Fine Art exhibit with some of the best artists in the world, painting and showcasing their art on the guitar purses in honor of Elena Kulikova, an advocate for Plastic Oceans Canada.

Melissa has also donated her guitar purses over the years to many charities to help our community. In honor of her

father, a huge boxing fan, & good friend Dameon Okposio from Below the Belt Boxing magazine Melissa will be donating the last Princess of Sound Guitar Shaped Purse showcased in a unique one - of - a - kind wall display art piece to raise money for The Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame 2020 DO Scholarship Fund. 100% of the proceeds will be donated.

Now Melissa will be moving to her next chapter concentrating her efforts into the family business SharpeFoods and continuing her passion for film. . .

Melissa’s motto is to keep Rockin, Follow Your Heart & Always Help Others.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!! - $2 a Ticket - 3 Tickets for $5 - 10 Tickets for $10 & 30 Tickets for ONLY $20 - You can purchase your Tickets NOW Online - Email okposio@hotmail.com - Tickets will also be available @ our upcoming events! We will keep you posted on show times.

WINNER of The Princess of Sound Guitar Purse DO Boxing Showcase wall display. The ONLY ONE of its kind will be announced on April 30th 2020 on the DO Boxing Show with Dameon Okposio. BTB

A CHAMPI THE RING S A CHAMPIO This story starts with a fond memory from Fitzroy Vanderpool’s childhood. Approximately 40 years ago in grade 6, Fitz Vanderpool was signed up for the Bell Canada cross country run with his father. A fellow student, Steve Sikic was in the race ahead of Fitzroy and the young Vanderpool continued to close the gap as the race unfolded.

Fitzroy Vanderpool’s father, who was running with him, felt that Fitz couldn’t pass Steve to win and decided to pull his son out of the race. Steve went on to win the race. Fitz and Steve would go on to the same Junior High and Highschool, but after highschool, they wouldn’t see each other because life happened like it does for so many of us.

25 years later, in 2016, Fitzroy received a phone call and it was Steve. The call was bittersweet as Steve explained that his son, Luka Sikic, (10 years old) was diagnosed with cancer and wanted to meet the world champion boxer that his father knew.

Fitzroy Vanderpool had a notable amateur boxing career and as a professional boxer, he earned six professional titles. In 1996, he defeated an unbeaten Tony Badea to win the Canadian welterweight title and started his championship belt collection. In 1998 he added two titles, the WBF Intercontinel welterweight championship and the WBC

ION FROM SUPPORTS ON IN LIFE Article by: Dameon Okposio Photos by: Nadezhda Lyra www.mirroredmuse.com Fecarbox welterweight championship.

On April 14, 1999, Vanderpool became the WBF super welterweight world champion. In 2002, Fitzroy added the WBC Fecarbox super welterweight championship to his collection.

Vanderpool retired from professional boxing in 2005 and retured after 7 years to defeat Roberto McLellan in 2013 for the National Boxing Authority middleweight title.

After the phone call, Vanderpool cleared his schedule and headed to the hospital with a couple belts in tow. Luka was excited to meet the champ and even though they had never met, they got on like longtime friends. Luka was talkative, easy going and joking around.

Luka’s parents were grateful for the visit and Vanderpool continued to stay in touch. The follwing year, a mutual friend of the Sikic and Vanderpool families, attended the hospital with Fitzroy for his visit. Roberto Angelis is a Poet and author, and with his partner, Nadezhda Lyra, a talented photographer; they took photos and made a video of Luka’s journey for his family.

Beautiful friendships blossomed out of a trajic event. A friendship, and a battle that continues till this day. Luka has shown a tremendous amount of courage as he continues to battle cancer, showing that he is a champion in life despite the obstacles. BTB

2020 ONTARIO BOXING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Article by: Dameon Okposio Photos provided by inductees/BTB File photos

On Saturday, May 30, 2020, Woodstock, Ontario

started his professional career in 1993, retiring 14 will play host to the 2020 Ontario Boxing Hall of years later with 42 professional bouts under his belt.

Fame Induction Ceremony. It is a full day of boxing With a record of 28-14 (10 KO’s), Bryon was one of entertainment for the avid boxing fan or the curious the most exciting fighters in his day, winning both the sports fan. This year will represent the 20 year Canadian welterweight title and middleweight title. anniversary of the OBHF (Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame) and 18 years with Dameon Okposio at the helm as President.

The Induction Ceremony returns to Woodstock, Ontario for a third year and will occupy the Oxford Auditorium located at 875 Nellis Street, for a second year in a row. We are thankful to the Mayor of Woodstock, Trevor Birtch, for his hospitality and welcoming attitude. Two members of the OBHF Selection Committee, Dave Hutchinson and Durell Wambolt stepped down in 2019 and the remaining two members brought you the list of our 8 inductees for this year. We are pleased and proud to announce our inductees for 2020!

BRYON MACKIE

DEWITH FRAZER

Dewith Frazer has touched every aspect of the sport of boxing and remains a pillar in the sport. Learning the sweet science in his teens, as a young boxer, Frazer amassed around 170 amateur bouts and qualified for the Olympic trials for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles were he made it to the quarter finals.

Frazer turned professional in Toronto in 1986 as a welterweight and had 12 professional bouts, including facing the long-standing South African Welterweight Champion, Harold Volbrecht 47-5-2.

Dewith Frazer retired from professional boxing and attained numerous coaching accolades, including A career highlight was winning the Canadian the following: middleweight title on February 1, 2002, when he 1996- Jamaican National Olympic coach, Atlanta, defeated Alex Hilton 37-7 by unanimous decision USA at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. Bryon Mackie 1998- Canadian National World championships

coach, Budapest, Hungary 2000- Canadian National Olympic coach, Sydney, Australia 2010- Canadian National, Commonwealth games team coach, Delhi, India 2014- Commonwealth National Coach Level 4 Olympic Level Coach

MARK LEDUC

Mark Leduc was born May 4, 1962 in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in the east end of the city. He went to Leslie Street Public School and took up the sport of boxing. He amassed an impressive amateur boxing record, going 158-26 on route to winning a silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the light “Razor” Ruddock had tremendous power and in welterweight division. the amateurs he earned a win over Lennox Lewis in March 1980 in Toronto at the Ontario Junior Boxing Leduc went professional in 1992 after the Olympics Championships at 165 lbs. and defeated Andy Wong in his fourth professional fight for the Canadian Professional Boxing Council As a professional, Ruddock faced the top fighters of National Super Lightweight Title. He retired from his era, facing off against Mike Tyson twice, Egerton professional boxing after his first loss with a record Marcus, Tommy Morrison and Lennox Lewis. of 4-1 (2 KO’s).

DONOVAN RUDDOCK

Ruddock ended his career with an impressive 40-6-1 (30 KO’s) record and earned the following titles: Canadian Heavyweight Champion WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Champion IBC World Heavyweight Champion

PETER SJOUWERMAN

Peter Sjouwerman is a former champion amateur boxer who was a Coppersmith by Trade. He has long been the president of the Bramalea Boxing Club and coached many fighters. A lot of gym owners, Olympians and professional boxers can trace their boxing roots back to the Bramalea Boxing Club.

One long-standing legacy to Sjouwerman’s credit Lisa “Bad News” Brown 20-6-3 (6 KO’s) is a is the Brampton Cup tournament which is famous tremendous boxer that fought the who’s who in in boxing circles all over the world as one of the women’s boxing. She started boxing in her late 20’s biggest amateur tournaments. Sjouwerman has run and had 32 amateur boxing matches before turning the tournament from 1982 and kept it going strong professional. for 38 years.

LISA BROWN

She’s had an impressive career earning the following titles.

IWBF Bantamweight Champion WIBC Junior Featherweight Champion WIBA Junior Featherweight Champion IFBA Junior Featherweight Champion WIBA Super Banatamweight Champion WBA Super Banatamweight Champion NABC Super Bantamweight Champion

RALPH RACINE Ralph Racine had boxing in his blood from the

beginning. His grandfather had boxed with Jack Dempsey and showed Ralph’s father how to box, who in turn taught Ralph, training him in the basement and in the garage of their home.

SILVIA PECOTA

Ralph started boxing amateur at a gym in Fonthill at the age of 14 and had approximately 35 amateur bouts before turning professional on May 3, 1975 at the age of 18. Ralph would travel to Buffalo New York and worked with coach Johnny Sudac, who had Silvia Pecota is an award-winning artist and sought his attention since the amateurs. photographer. Her work has appeared in numerous Training at Singers Gym in downtown Buffalo, helped publications and she has authored several books develop Ralph’s technique and power. During his including a children’s book. professional career, Ralph went head to head with top ranked fighters and was ranked as high as number 15 Silvia has profiled several sports and while doing so raised the public profile of her subjects. If the in the world as a lightweight. name sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve read her Ralph Racine retired from boxing with an impressive name numerous times in the Toronto Sun where she profiled numerous boxers as Sunshine Boys. It helped professional record of 28-9-1 (16 KO’s). keep boxing in the minds of the millions of Canadian readers and raised the notoriety of the boxers. BTB

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Helping First Responders

Dave McLennan is a

former Police Officer who retired after 30 years of service with the Peel Regional Police Service. Dave is the founder and president of “Boots On The Ground�, a Peer Support Service For First Responders.

available. They also offer a variety of referral services when they speak to people in need of assistance.

Their services are offered to Police, Fire, EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and Corrections employees throughout Ontario. This includes both sworn and civilian members of each service which also includes serving and retired members.

They are an alternative to current wellness programs being offered through employers. They believe that these programs are under-utilized because of fears Boots on The Ground associated with social stigma and confidentiality is an organization completely run and staffed issues. By keeping this completely separate from by volunteer first responders and the service is employee wellness programs their hope is that more people will utilize their available services. They incorporated as a nonprofit organization. offer a completely anonymous service when users Boots on the Ground offers 24/7 over the phone peer call in, so they do not have to worry about details of support. Following a call to their help line, if further the conversation getting back to their workplace. follow up is required, they are in a unique position to dispatch two volunteers in the GTA (Greater Toronto They currently have a group of 150 volunteers, Area). They believe that this peer support model including serving and retired first responders, makes them stand out from other resources currently working on the program and answering the phone lines 24/7. All of their volunteers receive peer support and suicide prevention training.

Boots on the ground is proud to partner with the Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame and is looking forward to the 2020 Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame Inductions on Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Woodstock, Ontario.

First Responders will be taking part in the live amateur boxing show in the evening and Boots on the Ground would like to thank everyone who purchased a ticket to the event because part of the proceeds will go to Boots on the Ground.

First responders can call their 24/7 peer support help line at 1-833-677-2668. For more information on Boots on the Ground, visit their website at: www. bootsontheground.ca.

Dameon Okposio, THE KEYSER SOZE OF CANADIAN BOXING

Article & Photos provided by: Dameon Okposio

If you weren’t born in the 60’s or 70’s, you may be shaking your head about Keyser Soze. He was a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1995 film called “The Usual Suspects”. It was about a man who was a renowned figure who was feared but elusive. He had a reputation even though he wasn’t seen. The same can be said of Dameon Okposio’s involvement in the Canadian boxing scene as he has spent more than two decades doing his part to build boxing and you still may not have heard of him.

Standing at 5’8” and over 200 lbs, many in the gym discouraged him from boxing, stating he was too short for heavyweight or super heavyweight. Even though no coaches at the gym would work with him, he paid his dues, came back each day and trained alone imitating what everyone else was doing.

Wanting to see if things would be different at another gym, Dameon switched to Landsdowne boxing club before his first fight and had an opportunity to train with a coach there for a short period of time.

With several small businesses in boxing, Dameon The first fight came and it was a crushing defeat. is one of the few people making money on the The opponent was more skilled and heavyhanded, Canadian fight scene with little support from the knocking Dameon down in round two, enroute to a fight community. The businesses include a boxing unanimous three round decision win. magazine, a boxing newsletter, boxing consulting, management, promotion of amateur and Dameon wanted to quit boxing but didn’t professional boxing shows, DO Media want to go out on a loss. If he walked graphic design, DO Boxing Show, training, away, he wanted it to be on his terms clothing and equipment sales and running after experiencing victory. The next the Ontario Boxing Hall of Fame. What’s not fight was important for his confidence. known by many is that all of those activities He had so much adversity in his personal are a side hustle. life living on his own as a teenager with no family support, that this wasn’t Dameon’s boxing journey began when going to be another thing that kept him he walked into his first boxing down. The win wasn’t even the most gym at the age of 16. It was important aspect, it was making Scarborough Boys Boxing sure he actually gave it his all.

Academy run by Frank If he could do that, win lose Bullard. The sparring or draw, he could walk away was immediate and knowing he gave his best Dameon initially and that would allow him blocked all of the to walk away on his own punches thrown at terms. him with his face.

Mike Tyson was the closest example of a short heavyweight that was successful, and a young “Iron” Mike Tyson was dominating the heavyweight boxing landscape. Dameon recorded every fight, interview and training session available on Tyson and imitated his movements. He went on hour long jogs with the intention of pushing himself to his limit each session.

In the past he trained 4 to 5 days a week after school for an hour, this time it was still 4 to 5 days a week for 2 hours and the intensity was higher. He trained to exhaustion and the weight dropped, he got faster and didn’t get tired as easy. He learned one of the biggest lessons he would learn from boxing, and that was, no matter how hard you think you are working or training, there is always another level you can take things too if you are willing to make the sacrifices.

Dameon returned to Scarborough Boys Boxing Academy for his second fight. Things were different this time. He doled out the punishment during the sparring this time around. He signed up for his second fight and fought a much taller and heavier

opponent. The result? A second round knockout win for Dameon Okposio. It confirmed the second important lesson he would learn, which is, there will be a lot of critics in life judging what you can do based on their experience. You can listen to what others say but remember that the outcome and results will always depend on the work you put in and the sacrifices you are willing to make. Support is good but determination, self love and self belief is better. BTB

Bulger Gallery Press is pleased to present, World’s Greatest, a publication that features 60 photographs by Pete Doherty and writing by Stephen Brunt, Jim Christy and Larry Fink.

Doherty (b. Ottawa, Canada, 1964) is a self-taught photographer and graduate of the Ontario College of Art, who, for many years, left behind the world of art to become a boxer. After retiring from his amateur career, Doherty returned to the ring with his camera in hand. His photographs primarily document the boxing world in Ontario and New York State, but are representative of professional and amateur boxing throughout North America. The images not only focus on the sport of boxing, but also on the people and personalities that populate that world. His photographs document the emotions and physical challenges of training, fighting, and the win or loss. They also address the politics that make up both amateur and professional fighting.

Doherty has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions. His work can be found at the Portrait Gallery of Canada—Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, and Wedge Curatorial Projects, Toronto, as well as in many private collections. He currently lives, trains, and photographs in Toronto.

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