From left to right: Red Wolf boxing coach Braddoch Koch, Ayden Masuskapoe and coach Amber Harker. (Facebook/ Team Masuskapoe)

By Nigel Maxwell

Boxing

P.A. area boxers shine at Alberta silver gloves tournament

Jan 20, 2025 | 4:05 PM

The youngest of six brothers is showing his toughness.

Ayden Masuskapoe, 17, was competing last weekend at a silver gloves competition in Medicine Hat and finished first in his youth division.

“It’s very rewarding and it really excites me just to fight,” he said, when interviewed by paNOW on Monday.

Masuskapoe won his second and final fight by split decision. After being outmuscled and essentially dominated in the first round, he was literally pushed into a corner and fought back to win the next two rounds.

“At the moment I was thinking I can’t go right or left so I tried pushing through,” he explained, admitting he was physically exhausted and sore. “I gave him a straight forward one-two and a straight forward upper cut and that really helped save me.”

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Ayden celebrates with his brother. (Facebook/ Team Masuskapoe)

With the win Ayden is now 5-0 and his coach Braddock Koch marvelled at his ability in the ring. Koch described the second fight as “one hell of a tilt” against a very tough opponent.

“Ayden made some brilliant adjustments in the second round and won the second round handedly. Third round was highly contested but I thought Ayden did enough to win and the judges thought so too. Hats off to our opponent because he was a tough, tough kid.”

Also competing from the Red Wolf Boxing Club were Aurora Isbister and Devon Masuskapoe who both lost out to eventual tournament champions. Cole Ahenakew was also scheduled to fight but was forced to withdraw due to a bad illness.

“Even the ones who lost, they fought their hearts out and I could not have been happier with them,” Koch said.

The proud coach also noted that when 15-year-old Isbister began training three years ago, she weighed almost 200 pounds but as a result of her hard work, has lost close to 60 pounds.

“She’s just been a workhorse and I am so proud of her,” Koch said.

Next up for the club is a camp in mid-February at Pasqua First Nation, which will be hosted by a national champion. There may also be a chance next month to compete at two other events

Also in Medicine Hat was Cruz Watier from Big River, who now trains out of Saskatoon and won his division. He won his final fight by TKO, after the 24 seconds into the second round.

His first fight lasted only 40 seconds into the first round and he won by TKO.

Watier with his Alliance club boxing coach. (Facebook/ Dana Watier)

The Nieman/ Page memorial Alberta Silver Gloves tournament featured clubs from B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan and there were a total of 88 fights over the course of two days.

Dating back 20 years, the memorial tournament pays tribute to Ev Nieman and Bill Page, who both played big roles in the Medicine Hat boxing community and have been inducted into the city’s Sports Hall of Fame.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell