It’s all good for Coquitlam’s Charly Dawson – and a big win underscored that.
The North Burnaby Boxing Club member captured the B.C. lightweight (135-pounds) junior title recently with a split decision over Surrey’s Gavin Bisla.
Backed by coaches Manny Sobral and Dave Robinson, Dawson has made some impressive strides over the past year.
Having a pair of losses to Bisla as motivation – with the most recent just two months ago – made the decision all the more sweet.
“I wanted that fight, because (Bisla) is a good fighter,” said Dawson, 15. “I wanted the belt so I kind of pushed harder.”
It was the third meeting between the two fighters, and it was the first time Dawson got the upper hand. The judges took some time to make their decision after the three-round match, with two of the three judges giving the nod to the CABE Secondary student.
“It took (the judges) a while, I guess that shows how close it was.”
With his orthodox style, Dawson came at the rematch with a definite plan, although looking back he still thinks it could have been better.
“I think I could have done better and thrown more punches. I don’t know. He’ll probably want a rematch – I want a rematch, too,” added Dawson. “My other fights (with Bisla) seemed shorter. This time I grew a little, we were about the same height and weight.”
It was his sixth fight, and improved his record to 4-2. In just his third year in the square jungle, Dawson is enjoying everything about the fisticuff sport.
“I just like it. I like MMA (mixed martial arts) but boxing is my favourite. … (Sobral) has helped me a lot and he has so much experience. Anything he tells me that I do, it always works out.”
Sobral doesn’t put a ceiling as to what the teen can achieve in the ring. Every fight is a door that can lead further up the ladder, with next year’s nationals on his radar. The veteran boxing coach says it is the steps between each door, the training and dedication, which makes up the path.
He feels Dawson has made strong foundation to build on.
“(Dawson) understands distance really well and that’s difficult to train,” said the North Burnaby coach. “That’s positioning yourself right, to where an opponent can’t land a punch on you or not.”
Right now, getting him some more fights is the next step.
“As long as he sticks to it,” said Sobral. “It’s like so many other things – you get what you put into it. Boxing is something (Dawson) enjoys, and it has helped him focus and stay on the straight and narrow.
“For some kids, its piano, or cross country, but for Charly, it’s boxing that gives him a focus. He’s tasted (success) at it and he wants to keep chasing it.”
