Local boxers shine at recent tournament

While both handily won their fights, it didn’t come without some adversity, as Edmunds opponent rallied in the third round while Innis had to withstand an early barrage. However, both fighters stayed cool in the moment, and Lally credits that to maturity and poise beyond their years,

“(The gym) is where she trains herself to do that. And I think that a big part comes from (fellow coach Jag Seehra’s) and I’s experience at the elite high level. When we got there, it was the mental game. Mental game is huge, and in order not to break in a fight, you must not break here in the gym before our fighters step in the ring,” Lally said, describing Edmunds mental toughness.

“He can do stuff in there that open fighters, like fighters over ten fights, are doing. That was only Thunder’s third fight. His capability is very amazing what he can do in there,” he continued, speaking about Innis.

Innis’s young career has gotten off to a dominant start, as his win now brings him to a perfect 3-0 record, with Lally adding Innis has yet to be seriously challenged. Innis says he wants to be the best fighter in the world, but it’s not just for his own ambition, as he explains he fights to remember his father, who passed away when he was 12 years old.

“Every time before I fight before I’m getting ready, I pray for around ten minutes. I pray to my father that he’ll be with me in the ring and he’ll guide me,” Innis said.

Having Lakota and Ojibwe heritage, Innis adds he also fights for his culture.

“My people, we’ve suffered, we’ve suffered quite a lot, and people don’t know that we’ve suffered, right? They don’t know about us, there’s people that don’t even know we exist, right? But as Indigenous people, we’re still here, and I’m here to drive my people in a new light, and that’s what I want to do,” Innis said.

Lally believes Innis and Edmunds both have what it takes to grow into formidable fighters and have long, successful, careers.

“The future looks bright. Jag and I were taught by one of the best coaches ever to come out of Canada, Bob Pegues, and then take that with Jag and I’s 126, 136, fights on the international stage, we are bringing something different to this game. Hopefully we’ll bring back more Canadian champions and Olympians,” Lally said.

“I have grown a lot since my first exhibition, and I’m ready to train harder and more,” Edmunds said.

This was Edmunds first official fight, as her previous fights were exhibitions against opponents who were not in her age or weight class.

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by Tommy Osborne

Local boxers shine at recent tournament

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