Havanna Demers, left, trades punches with Brooklyn Kaufman during the main event at a Demers Boxing fight night at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre on Jan. 17, 2026. (Photo: Kingdom Growth Media / submitted by Quenten Demers)

By Kenneth Cheung

LOCAL TALENT

‘We put on a hell of a show’: Demers Boxing fills Meadow Lake Civic Centre for its first fight night

Jan 20, 2026 | 1:55 PM

The lights cut through the dark as gloves met leather and a packed crowd leaned forward in their seats, turning the Meadow Lake Civic Centre into a proving ground for local boxers.

Demers Boxing’s fight night drew an estimated 400 people on Jan. 17, filling every chair in the building and spilling into standing room only, according to club owner and coach Quenten Demers.

“We filled the Civic Center right up,” he said. “We actually oversold our tables. The turnout was awesome.”

The card featured 16 bouts, with local fighters delivering strong performances throughout the night.

Chazz Morin avenged a previous loss by defeating a previously undefeated opponent with a 3–0 record. Kody Coullioneur earned a unanimous-decision win against a tough opponent and was later named Best Novice of the evening by officials and judges at ringside.

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Marcus Abbott dropped a close bout, while Isabella Demers lost a decision in what Quenten described as one of the better fights of the night. Aidie Friesen and Avery Neale competed in their first match.

Kody Coullioneur, left, works inside the ring during his bout at a Demers Boxing fight night at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre on Jan. 17, 2026.(Photo: Kingdom Growth Media / submitted by Quenten Demers)

In the main event, Havanna Demers faced Brooklyn Kaufman, an Ontario champion and Canadian national medalist with international experience, including tournament wins in Sweden and a United States national title. She won the bout by split decision and was later awarded Best Open Female, a division reserved for boxers with more than 10 bouts.

Read more:

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• Rapid View sisters return from B.C. with title, respect and plans to showcase boxing at home
• Meadow Lake boxer turns debut loss into learning moment ahead of home bout
  Havanna Demers, left, trades punches with Brooklyn Kaufman during the main event at a Demers Boxing fight night at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre on Jan. 17, 2026. (Photo: Kingdom Growth Media / submitted by Quenten Demers)
  Brooklyn Kaufman, left, trades punches with Havanna Demers during the main event at a Demers Boxing fight night at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre on Jan. 17, 2026. (Photo: Kingdom Growth Media / submitted by Quenten Demers)

The pressure of performing at home was a recurring theme throughout the night – something both coach and fighter said adds a unique mental challenge.

“If you can get in front of a ring and face somebody who’s beaten you before and lay it all on the line in front of everybody you know, anything else in life is easy,” Quenten said.

“That’s got to be one of the hardest things that you can ever do is stand there in front of everybody and fight your heart out.”

Havanna echoed that sentiment, describing the main event as one of the “toughest things I’ve ever had to do in boxing yet.”

“Fighting in front of the hometown and everyone’s there and having such a great opponent and being the main event.”

She said she leaned into the moment rather than away from it.

“As difficult as it was, I was ready to get in there and do that,” she said. “It’s the next step to getting better, boxing the best opponent.”

Chazz Morin, left,throws a punch during a bout at a Demers Boxing fight night at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre on Jan. 17, 2026. (Photo: Kingdom Growth Media / submitted by Quenten Demers)

Beyond the results, Quenten said the night marked a turning point for the club, with new interest from sponsors and athletes alike.

“Now that we’ve had one successful show in town, I’m confident that the next one’s going to be even bigger and better,” he said.

He credited volunteers, sponsors and community support for making the event possible, calling the night a milestone not just for the club, but for local boxing.

“This was our coming out and we put on a hell of a show,” he said. “It was wonderful.”

From left, Sonny Meredith of Calgary, winner of Fight of the Night; Jacey Kasakan of Kopas Boxing in Saskatoon, also named Fight of the Night; Kody Coullioneur of Demers Boxing in Meadow Lake, winner of Best Novice; and Havanna Demers of Demers Boxing, winner of Best Open Female, pose during an awards presentation following a Demers Boxing fight night at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre on Jan. 17, 2026. Best Open Male winner Kizhar Hasmi of Alliance Boxing Club in Saskatoon is not shown.(Photo: Kingdom Growth Media / submitted by Quenten Demers)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com