PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — The Army sports people in South Korea who brought you the first boxing matches on a U.S. military installation in recent memory are looking to hit you again.
Camp Carroll in Waegwan will host the “Tough Soldier II Boxing Invitational” on Feb. 10 at the post’s Crown Jewel Fitness Center. The matches are open to male and female active duty servicemembers.
The post’s first invitational back on Sept. 9, treated a rowdy crowd to a dramatic super heavyweight knockout when 2nd Lt. John Rigsbee landed a hard shot to the chin of Staff Sgt. Geremy Ganaway about 45 seconds into the second round, dropping him to the canvas. Ganaway lay unconscious for five minutes before Army medics revived him.
“You should have seen the crowd — this was madhouse," Camp Carroll sports director Carlos Algarin said. “The crowd just went nuts.”
Algarin is hoping next month’s “Tough Soldier II” will have at least 12 bouts on the card. Each bout consists of three two-minute rounds.
Algarin said some military boxers have already signed up from various places on the peninsula.
Categories and weight classes will be:
Light flyweight (106 pounds)
Flyweight (112 pounds)
Bantamweight (119 pounds)
Featherweight (125 pounds)
Lightweight (132 pounds)
Light welterweight (139 pounds)
Welterweight (147 pounds)
Light middleweight (156 pounds)
Middleweight (165 pounds)
Light heavyweight (178 pounds)
Heavyweight (201 pounds)
Super heavyweight (over 201 pounds)
Fighters with fewer than 10 previous matches will be placed in the novice category. Those with 10 or more must compete in the “open” category.
Medical exams and weigh-ins will be held on fight day at the gym from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Boxers must supply their own fitted mouthpiece. Lodging for participants from outside Area IV will be available upon request, Area IV officials said in a news release.
Call Algarin at DSN 765-8287 or 765-8118 for more information.
“It’s gonna be a night to remember for many years,” Algarin said of “Tough Soldier II.”
“Our boxing shows, they’re set up to be like ‘Vegas’ style … with all the excitement, all the music. I mean the atmosphere is just filled with that energy that makes boxing events so great, and brings excitement to your heart.”
