Sports history made twice by Stonewalker

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He's back!

Just when you thought you heard the last of Danny Stonewalker, he steps from

the shadows to handily dispose of Winnipeg's George McFall to become Canada's new heavyweight boxing champion.

And in the process the Fort McMurray, Alberta Native made Canadian history - twice over.

"That's right," growls Stonewalker's long-time manager, promoter and mentor Glen Carriere.

"He's the first Canadian ever to win both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. And he's the first Native to ever become heavyweight champ."

Stonewalker improved his record to 18-6 when he defeated McFall at the Winnipeg Convention Centre to gain the vacant heavyweight title Oct. 8.

Before a capacity crowd of 3,000 (12 of the 40 ring-side seats were occupied by Native leaders from the Assembly of First Nations) Stonewalker rocked Nelson several times in early rounds using his trademark jab and lightning-foot speed. By round five, Nelson had all the punishment he could take, Carriere says.

"We pulverized him."

Not since Vancouver Native George Jerome fought former boxing great George Chuvalo has an Indian even come close to becoming Canadian heavyweight champ, Carriere maintains.

"It's been a dream for a long time," Stonewalker said shortly after McFall failed

to answer the call in the sixth.

"I feel real proud."

And he should. Carriere explained that Stonewalker's apparent hiatus from the fight game was simply a rigorous training process he underwent after his last fight in August, when he lost to former world heavyweight champ Michael Dokes in Las Vegas.

"What's he been doing? Running and more running," Carriere says. "He's been out training every day. Now he's champ."

Carriere, co-owner of KO Boxing Promotions in Edmonton, says that Stonewalker is now on the right course for future world-class match-ups.

"He's only 31 years old," Carriere notes. "There's a long way to do."

Earlier this year the championship belt was stripped from Conroy Nelson, who Canadian Professional Boxing Federation officials claimed was refusing to defend the title. Carriere argues that Stonewalker could have had the title sooner.

"Nelson was dodging it," Carriere says. "He knew he couldn't win."

Next up, Carriere says, is Stonewalker's non-title defence against England's Herb Hyde Sept. 10 in London, and a possible date to fight former world champ Mike Weaver.

Carriere is also talking to organizers against a top-ranked Canadian contender in the fighter's own home town of Fort McMurray.

The heavyweight division has waned in Canada in recent years, Carriere insists. But he adds that fight fans are in store for a sensational show from Alberta.

"We're talking about a new and improved Danny Stonewalker."