Milane D’Aurelie captured gold at the Junior and Youth Canadian Boxing Championships, making her the first Nelson boxer to become a national champion.
D’Aurelie, fighting at 54 kilograms for Team B.C., defeated Quebec’s Oceane Dufour by decision March 23 to win gold in Calgary.
The 18-year-old L.V. Rogers student previously defeated Ontario’s Izabella Nagy in the quarter-finals then her own Nelson Boxing Club teammate Jahsiah Snow in the semifinals en route to the gold-medal bout.
“It’s crazy. I’m really glad I could bring that gold to our gym.”
D’Aurelie entered the competition injured after suffering cracked ribs in training a couple weeks before the event, but fought through pain.
Against Dufour, D’Aurelie said she worked to make it clear to the judges who the better boxer was.
“I had seen her fight, I could see her techniques a little bit. She would clinch and hold, and from there hit. So I really had to keep that in mind of keeping my hands nice and high, and when we go to the body unload then bring my hands back up and keep moving.
“It was a pretty tough fight but I really enjoyed it.”
Team B.C. head coach and Nelson Boxing Club owner Jesse Pineiro said D’Aurelie deserved gold.
“It was a tricky fight. The girl was strong, but Milane just outworked her. She really wanted it and you could see it. Every angle whenever the girl hit her, she hit her back three times. She’s just super determined.”
Snow meanwhile didn’t go home empty handed, taking bronze against Alberta’s Savannah Dessert.
Several other Nelson boxers also competed for Team B.C.
Porter Hansen won silver in the men’s junior 70-kg category. He defeated Alberta’s Haiden Van Horne with a fast first-round stoppage and Quebec’s Jake Boudreault before losing a decision to Team B.C. teammate Csongor Basco in the final.
Torin Edmonds defeated Saskatchewan’s Kaeden Hunter before losing to Alberta’s Jacob Pagaling in the quarter-finals of the 63.5 kg youth division.
The event also featured the Canada Cup open tournament.
Provincial champion Riel Martinez took silver after losing a decision to reigning national champion Jacob Blais of Quebec, while Lola Brouillette settled for bronze after falling to eventual gold medallist Patty Romeo of Manitoba in the semifinals.
Pineiro said he hoped D’Aurelie’s achievement wouldn’t be lost on her hometown. Winning a national title takes hard training but also some luck too.
“It all has to come together and it’s really hard to do, and we’ve never done that before. We’ve had people get really close, we’ve got really talented people here, but I do see it as a progression.”
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