Local boxers to get in Mercier ring

Joey Two Rivers, who has partnered with FightQuest’s Peter Thomas to put on TNT boxing events - including this Saturday’s event in Mercier, their third - is in it first and foremost for his love of boxing.

“I love boxing. That’s my main thing. If there’s a big main event, I’m going to watch it, and that’s been the case going back 30 years at least,” said Two Rivers.

He first got the suggestion to have boxing events in town from Maxime Lepage, who runs the Action boxing club in Mercier. Joey’s nephew, Slade, was training there at the time to work on his striking as an MMA fighter.

“Max said, ‘How come you don’t do boxing in Kahnawake?’ The last time there was boxing was at the Marina almost 10 years ago with ‘Rocky’ Van Dommelen,” said Joey.

He told Lepage that he knew Thomas through some business they had done together, and that he would get in contact with him.

“All of a sudden, it snowballed,” said Joey. The pair organized a successful event at the Knights of Columbus in May 2024 and would have done another one in Kahnawake in November, had it not been for the Knights building’s closure at the time.

“We kept a good relationship with Max, so we were able to hold the second one at the boxing club in Mercier,” said Joey.

Joey also has a personal reason for these events to keep running, as his nephew Slade, who indirectly sparked the creation of the event series, took to boxing and has been on the card for both TNT events so far and will be in action on Saturday.

Slade, who is 15 years old, currently holds a 2-1 record. He lost his first ever fight - which according to Joey he decided to take part in the day of - before winning his next two, including his latest win in November coming by technical knockout.

“He’s progressed a lot, especially since he just started boxing two years ago,” said Joey. “He goes to train four times a week, he’s got private boxing classes, he cooks his own meals, for someone that is 15 years old, that’s a lot. He’s dedicated and keen to do well.”

For his part, Slade said that preparation and getting better are what motivates him to keep training.

He works on his footwork and his techniques through intensive, repeated circuit training.

As for Saturday? He’s hoping for a win, no matter how it comes.

“If the knockout comes, it comes. I’ve just got to get locked in,” said Slade.

Fourteen fights are currently on the card, including Slade taking on Derek Lapierre. Another boxer from Kahnawake, Kael King, is also on the card, and he will be facing off against Jonathan Robert.

Doors will open on Saturday at 3 p.m. and the event will start at 4 p.m. Tickets, which are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12, are on sale at the club and will be available the day of the event.

[email protected]