Cole Ahenakew dazzles his opponent at the Bronze Gloves tournament in Calgary. (Dexter Photography)

By Nigel Maxwell

Boxing

P.A. boxer named Elite fighter at Calgary tournament

Feb 11, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Prince Albert’s Cole Ahenakew is a man of few words and prefers to let his hands and fists do the talking.

The 24-year-old was among four athletes from the Redwolf Boxing Club to compete in Calgary last weekend at the Bronze Gloves tournament.

With over 100 total bouts and over 70 athletes from all across B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Ahenakew was named the tournament’s overall Elite fighter.

“I believed it because that’s what I always thought,” Ahenakew told paNOW, adding he felt everything just fell into place.

“I wanted to win,” he said.

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Ahenakew had two fights, each consisting of three, one minute rounds. Crediting his coach, Ahenakew said he was in better shape than his opponents.

“The other fighters were getting tired and conditioning was a big difference,” he said.

Cole Ahenakew and his coach Braddock Koch. (Facebook)

While he’s known Ahenakew for a number of years, Coach Braddock Koch has only been working intensively with him for the last four months. Kock believes Ahenakew had a moment of clarity, “and dominated his division, like really showed his stuff and it was obvious why they picked him the Elite fighter,” he said.

During his career, Koch has coached dozens of fighters and when asked what makes Ahenakew stand out, Koch noted the intangibles such as Ahenakew’s athletic gifts and good reflexes.

“The biggest thing for him is he’s teachable. You show him something and he works at it and works at it until he gets it,” Koch explained.

Moving forward, Ahenakew now has his sights set on competing at provincials next month in Regina.

Also competing last weekend from the Redwolf club were Corbin Munro, Luke Kalnakoff and Lukas Tamayo.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell