Amateur boxers from across the Greater Toronto Area will step into the ring at the inaugural Arnie Boehm Classic tomorrow at Clancy’s Boxing Academy on Traders Blvd.

The tournament is named after the man who trained Mississauga’s Chris Johnson as an amateur fighter. Boehm also trained Olympic gold medalist and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.
Johnson, who now trains former world featherweight champ Steve Molitor of Mississauga and top local professionals Logan McGuinness and Victor Lupo, hopes to create a lasting legacy for Boehm, a Kitchener trainer who passed away in 2002 at the age of 69.

“He was the world to me as a young man,” he said.

“I marvelled in the way he mentored myself, Lennox and many other kids who had no direction and no journey in life. He was able to give us a journey, not only through boxing, but through life.”

A number of Clancy’s fighters such as Mike Affaine and Taylor Page will participate along with boxers from Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton. Lewis, a former undisputed champion who went 41-2-1 over his 15-year career, is expected to make an appearance.

“I want to pay homage to everything (Boehm) has given to me and other people,” Johnson said. “Eventually, in four or five years, I’d like to get more sponsors and turn this into a national or maybe international tournament.”

This year’s event is presented by Planet Optical, Hennessey Sports, El Sombrero and the Adelaide Club.