High Prairie to host Native boxers on the 'Warpath'

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Let's get ready to rumble!

The High Prairie Sports Palace is ready to host the Boxing Alberta "On the Warpath" fight night on Aug. 28.

There will be 10 bouts on the undercard, featuring Native professional and amateur boxers Edmonton's Crystal "Brave Heart" Arcand; the Slave Lake Slugger, Kevin Beaver; Donovan "Lee" Horse from Regina; Rocky Whitford from the Kikino Metis Settlement; and "Cree Boy" Bobby Roy from Edmonton.

The main event features Regina's own Don Laliberte doing battle with undefeated heavyweight slugger Ritchie "K.O." Jero from Wisconsin.

Event organizers, and Alberta Amateur Boxing Association board directors Brad Hortie and Larry Fleming, hope to "pack the Palace" for the high profile event.

Hortie said it's going to be one of the best showcases of Native boxing talent this side of Caesar's Palace.

"We looked for the best boxers that are out there and half or more than half are Aboriginal."

The bouts have been carefully selected so there shouldn't be any one-sided battles, said Fleming. That way the audience, expected to number more than 2,500, will be left wanting more.

And more they could get. It's hoped the boxing event will become a regular part of the sport in Alberta.

"We don't want this to be a one-time shot in the dark," said Fleming. "We want to provide pure entertainment."

The first-round bell of the start-up fight will clang at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at High Prairie's Crazy Horse Saloon and Liquor Corral, the High Prairie Inn, and the High Prairie Sports Palace.