Combat Academy showcases talents at boxing event

The Brandon Fitness Combat Academy hosted its annual Fall Brawl Boxing Event over the weekend, bringing together a lineup of determined athletes who put their strength, skill and heart to the test inside the ring.

Hosted inside the Brandon Fitness Combat Academy gym, the event drew athletes from Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina and Ontario, and featured 12 matches — 10 competitive bouts and two sparring sessions alongside six fighters representing the home club.

One of the highlights of the night for local fans was Brandon boxer Jesse Kreutzer’s victory over Simon Federkevik of Pan Am Boxing Club (Winnipeg) in the 70-kilogram category.

The win marked his fourth career victory, improving record to four wins and two losses, Kreutzer told the Sun after his Saturday fight.

“It feels really good,” he said. “A big thing is you have to have confidence in yourself. If you think you’re going to lose, you are going to lose. It’s a mental game — you can’t beat yourself before you get into the ring.”

Kreutzer credited his success to his straight punches, defensive movement, and focus on precision. “Landing clean shots and keeping your head moving so you don’t get hit — that’s where the points come from,” he added.

Saturday’s fight was especially meaningful for the 150-pound competitor, who hadn’t fought in over a year. “To know I can take time off, come back, train, and still be at the level I am — that’s a good feeling,” he said, adding that he hopes to compete at the provincial level next. “Maybe provincials or some tournament like that — I’m working toward it.”

For the academy, which has only been open for a year, Fall Brawl was more than a boxing card — it was a celebration of community and the steady rise of boxing culture in Westman, owner Ryker Batson told the Sun.

Batson, who opened Brandon Fitness Combat Academy a year ago, said Fall Brawl is part of a growing effort to develop and showcase local boxing talent.

“We’re showing what we have to offer,” Batson said. “We had about six boxers from Brandon in the ring, and we’re hoping to grow the sport in Brandon. Most of our boxers are youth — we’re trying to keep them active, focused, and out of trouble.”

Batson said the academy plans to hold its next boxing card in March, with another 12 bouts expected. With the boxing season just beginning, he’s optimistic that Brandon will continue to play a bigger role in Manitoba’s boxing circuit.

“Being the only boxing club in Brandon, we also have boxers coming from Rivers, Oak Lake, Minnedosa, and other nearby towns,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent around here — and we’re just getting started.”

The Fall Brawl event not only celebrated skill and sportsmanship but also underscored the growing enthusiasm for boxing in Brandon and surrounding communities, marking another step forward for the young academy’s vision to build a strong, community-rooted boxing culture, he added.

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