20th annual Nieman/Page memorial Alberta Silver Gloves this weekend

By JAMES TUBB on January 16, 2025.

The Medicine Hat Boxing Club’s headline local event is celebrating a milestone this weekend.

The local boxing club is hosting the 20th annual Nieman/Page memorial Alberta Silver Gloves this weekend, with two shows on Saturday and one Sunday at the Medicine Hat Lodge.

Medicine Hat Boxing Club coach Kerry Fahlman says they have more than 200 registered boxers for the events, with 30 clubs representing three Western provinces.

“From northern B.C. to southern B.C., Saskatchewan to Alberta,” Fahlman said. “We’re getting really good support.”

The memorial boxing tournament, also running as an Alberta Silver Gloves, is named in honour of Ev Nieman and Bill Page, two Hatters who played big roles in the Medicine Hat boxing community and its development. Both Nieman and Page have been named to the city’s Sports Wall of Fame for their efforts in the sport.

The local club has seven boxers entered for the weekend’s show, with bouts to be determined later Wednesday night ahead of the weekend, though details were not available by press time. For the Medicine Hat fighters, a majority of their bouts are on the road in front of unfamiliar faces. Getting the chance to fight at home is only a little of what makes the weekend popular Fahlman says.

“It’s fun to be able to fight at home, because we’re on the road so much,” Fahlman said. “The kids get to fight in front of friends and family, and we get such good support from those out in the boxing community, people support us so well.”

The shows get underway Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m. with Sunday’s show, the final of the weekend, starting at noon. Tickets will be available at the door, $20 or $40 for the weekend. Tables of eight are also available but likely to sell out quick, Fahlman says.

He says anyone interested or intrigued should attend to see the passion and support in the sport of boxing.

“Everybody gets into it, the crowd’s great, we have one of the best announcers, and he gets the crowd going,” Fahlman said. “Everyone who has been to the show before comes to me afterwards and says they’re coming back, it’s just a fun thing.

“We truly appreciate all the support we get.”

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