The Airdrie Oilmen’s Associaton (AOA) personal model of battle membership is about to rock the Palace Theatre in Calgary on March 23.
And in contrast to guidelines one and two within the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, or the movie starring Brad Pitt, the AOA very a lot desires to speak about it.
Not solely is the AOA’s “White Collar Boxing” fundraising battle night time making its triumphant return after three years of COVID-related cancellations, AOA president Adrian Pruden mentioned it’s hoping to punch above its weight to assist North Rocky View Group Hyperlinks, the Airdrie Meals Financial institution, and the Airdrie and District Victims’ Help Society.
“We’re supporting Airdrie charities,” Pruden defined. “These charities, with the expansion we now have had within the metropolis, are in determined want of further funds to assist fund the applications they placed on.”
This 12 months’s White Collar Boxing occasion will characteristic 24 native newbie fighters, drawn not from the imply streets however fairly from among the many ranks of the AOA themselves, in addition to native realtors, financiers, varied white collar staff, and different professions.
“It’s sort of a assorted group,” Pruden mentioned. “Participation is open to anybody fascinated with collaborating.”
The fighters all began coaching within the first week of January. They’ve skilled twice every week at White Collar Boxing Firm in King’s Heights, in preparation for the upcoming battle night time.
“These guys get to know each other,” Pruden mentioned. “They construct a strong friendship, and we match everybody accordingly inside their skillset and (weight class).”
In keeping with Pruden, the ultimate 24 fighters for this 12 months’s battle card have been trimmed down from a gaggle of preliminary candidates that numbered over 50. The occasion is sanctioned by means of Alberta Boxing.
He estimated every fighter collaborating has dropped a median of between 20 and 30 kilos since coaching began earlier this winter, and every of the fighters is keen to point out off their newly acquired boxing expertise and placed on a very good present for the gang.
“It’s a full Vegas-style, UFC-style occasion,” Pruden defined. “We do a weigh-in the night time earlier than the place the fighters truly study who their opponents are going to be. They don’t have any clue whereas coaching [who they’ll be fighting] actually up till the day earlier than.”
Through the years, the Airdrie Oilmens’ Affiliation has raised over $300,000 to assist native charitable causes by means of varied occasions, Pruden confirmed, however none are as extremely anticipated because the annual White Collar Boxing occasion, which first kicked off in 2015.
“It’s in all probability one of the electrical occasions you will note,” he promised. “We promote out the Palace Theatre yearly for this occasion. Fighters will stroll out with their full entourage and make their method by means of the gang similar to you’d see at a UFC battle.”
These wishing to buy tickets or present sponsorship for the March 23 fundraiser can go to aoaalberta.com.
“Come out and assist the fighters,” Pruden mentioned, making a direct pitch to Airdrie residents. “Lots of them are domestically primarily based, with a number of from Calgary. It’s your neighbours and the companies you assist. So yeah, come on out and have a very good time.”
