April 16th, 2007   Border City Surprise  On Saturday, April 14th, we traveled to the Border City boxing club in Windsor with two fighters, Paul Keeler-Lavin and Mark Colucci, who both had last minute changes in their opponents only 2 days before the event.  Paul was matched up with hometown hero Josh Cameron of the Border City boxing club and three time Canadian Champion, including this year in the 64 Kg Junior category.  But before Pauly took on his greatest challenge to date, Mark Colucci had a fight with similar disadvantages.  Mark took on Josh Eccles of the BEL boxing club, a veteran of 7 fights compared to Mark’s 6 fights, as well as a 9 lbs. difference against him, and with a hometown-like crowd in attendance to boot.  The fight was back an forth for the first two rounds with both fighters exchanging straight punches, and several haymakers as well.  In the third round Mark went out trying to stop his opponent, the only possible strategy for him after two close rounds.  And one that would have succeeded if he had been able to make contact more often, but Josh Eccles, the son of Scott Eccles the head coach of BEL boxing, was able to make him miss and eventually had his hand raised in a close victory over our guy Mark.  In the main event Paul took on Josh Camron in what was a great battle between the two young fighters.  The first round was close with Paul getting a small edge in my opinion, and the second round was even better for Paul in my opinion as he managed to land several excellent combinations and push Cameron back.  But after putting his all in the first two rounds all he had left for the last two rounds of the fight was heart, and what great heart he had to keep on throwing punches back even after he was exhausted.  Naturally the hometown kid won, especially after dominating the last two rounds, but this was the first test Paul has ever faced fighting at 64 Kg for the first time, to finish four rounds with the Canadian champion is no small feat.  Congratulations to both our guys for fighting in their opponents’ hometown and with so much against them in both experience and weight.