Leo Laferriere displayed poise, precision and smooth footwork in his fourth amateur bout en route to a unanimous decision win over Max Klobucar.
Laferriere weighed in at 140 pounds for the Nov. 29 match at North Vancouver gym Griffins Boxing (up from his previous weight class of 132 pounds). He felt fit and comfortable in his body as a result, but also had to deal with a larger opponent.
Regardless, Laferriere nullified Klobucar's size and power advantage. He took command of the fight in the third round, stunning his foe with multiple combinations to elicit a pair of standing-eight counts from the referee. Klobucar made the bell, but the outcome was not in doubt.
"He was tough," said Laferriere about his rival from Port Kells. "I hit him with all I got, but he wouldn't stop coming at me. He was bleeding all over the face and started to bruise up a bit, but he wouldn't stop coming.
"[Max] knew he was down on points in the last round, and I was just waiting him out. He got gassed, and once his guard [dropped] I was just going in there really well."
Laferriere's Whistler Boxing Club teammate Joshua MacNeil saw action the same night at 170 pounds. He didn't fare as well, dropping a unanimous decision to Tristan Lowe of Roundhouse Martial Arts in Squamish.
'Non-stop punching'
Whistler Boxing Club head coach Sasha Gier teaches a Russian fighting style that prioritizes distance control, strategic movement and accurate combinations. It's a good tactic for a young, developing athlete like Laferriere, who stuck to the script.
The Pembertonian showed flashes of technical skill very early in his career, with the mental fortitude to match. Now he is beginning to grow into himself physically.
"We spent the last two months working on Leo's conditioning and power, and that definitely paid off because he was non-stop punching right to the end of the third round," Gier recalled. "Very happy with his performance. We are planning to take December off and come back after the holidays [to find] better competition."
Gier and Laferriere both acknowledged MacNeil's efforts, despite the result.
"Both [Joshua and Tristan] were heavy-handed, both powerful," says Gier. "The decision went to Tristan, he was better that night. Josh has been training for under a year—he's a novice fighter but he showed a lot of heart. Now he's back to the drawing board.
"We've got a very good relationship with [Roundhouse Martial Arts], so kudos to them. We're very happy that both athletes are safe and doing well, no injuries. The rest was just a learning experience."
Added Laferriere: "Congrats to Tristan for winning a great fight. Josh was fighting hard, always coming [forward] and never backing off. He was ready to slug it out whenever he had the opportunity."
Griffins Boxing is known for its charged-up environment on fight night, and Laferriere admitted to having some pre-bout nerves. Yet his confidence grew as he entered the ring, faithful in his coach's mentorship.
"The crowds there are just unreal," he remarked. "They have an upstairs and a downstairs … so people are all around you. Everyone's just super high-tension. Everyone's super energetic."
The youngster still wants to improve his defence, but a precise and rhythmic offence is paying dividends so far.
"I'm astonished [at my own rate of progress]," says Laferriere. "In my first two fights, I had no style, then over the summer I built my style because of Sasha. I can move in and out with my punches, and I throw lots of volume with great accuracy."
