The coach of the Acadie Boxing Club in Bathurst wants to give his fighters every opportunity to succeed.

That is why Ken Roy took four boxers to a training camp in Saint John earlier this month.

"It was at the Golden Gloves boxing gym," said Roy, who will be an assistant coach for Team New Brunswick at the Canadian boxing championships next month in Edmonton, Alta. "We started with a good cardio workout each morning and did technical sparring."

Roy was one of five coaches at the clinic that attracted a total of 21 boxers from throughout the province, including 10 New Brunswick champions. They included Mitch Boudreau of the Acadie Boxing Club who won a provincial title in the 130 pound weight class last fall and will represent New Brunswick at the nationals that will take place at the West Edmonton Mall, Feb. 23 to March 1.

"Mitch fought against a guy from Moncton that has 40 fights and is (a two-time) Canadian champion," said Roy. "It was open to anybody that wanted to go. I'm proud of all my boxers, they fought against some really experienced kids and did well."

Also attending the event from the Acadie Boxing Club were Steven Lagace, Lee Roy and Ty Cluett, who is also a New Brunswick champion but who Roy said needed another year of experience before stepping into the ring at the Canadian Championships.

"They were all there for the experience of the training camp, to learn more techniques and find out what they can improve on," explained coach Roy. "It helped them build up their confidence and showed them they can compete with guys who are Canadian champions or Maritime Champions."

"My goal with the training camp was to see where I was with the boxers and to see how strong they were compared to boxers from (throughout the province)," he continued. "I know they have good boxers in Saint John and Fredericton, and now I know my boxers can keep up with those guys."

Roy said one of the biggest benefits of training camps, like the one held in Saint John, is the opportunity for fighters to work with different coaches.

"All coaches do things a little differently and they can teach different techniques," he explained. "Plus, sometimes when you watch your boxers, you miss little things they are doing wrong. The other coaches will see that little thing and will tell him what they are doing wrong so they can improve."

He said camps like those are not just good for the boxers either.

"All of those training camps are a good learning experience for me also," he pointed out. "It showed me where I am with my training and my coaching and what I have to work on to advance even more. I always said, when a coach stops learning he should stop coaching. No coach is an expert. You always have to learn something and you always have to look for something better."

Roy will be holding a similar training camp of his own on Feb. 14 and 15 at his club, which is located in the basement of the Herman J. Good V.C. Branch No. 18 Royal Canadian Legion on St. Peter Avenue.

"It will be for (boxers in the) youth and cadet (categories) and kids that are getting ready to go to the Canada Winter Games in 2011," he concluded. "I always tell the kids to take everything they learn from all the coaches and put it in their bag and use it, that is how you make a good boxer."

Roy and his boxers are going to be busy over the next few months. In addition getting ready to go to the nationals and hosting his own training camp, Roy expects to be sending boxers to fight cards in Campbellton, Feb. 7; Edmundston, March 14; and Plaster Rock, April 24; before staging his own fight card at the Bathurst legion on April 24.

Source:http://thenorthernlight.canadaeast.com/sports/article/552114