A local boxer has spiritedly fought his way to the national podium in Western Canada.
Carter Seymour, 21, claimed silver in a recent competition out in Calgary, Alberta, representing Team Ontario against tall odds.
The Belleville resident, who trains and coaches at family-owned Dog Pound Boxing Academy, had to battle as hard as he ever had through injury and inactivity to make placement.
“Six months ago is when I first broke my hand, and I left it for two weeks hoping I could compete at provincials,” he explained.
“I finally got it checked out and found out it was actually broken and there was no way I can fight. The way I broke it, I had to get surgery because it displaced a bone. I think it was two millimeters in my hand, which is a lot for a hand bone. So my only option was surgery.”
Normally, fighters would probably fight once a month leading up to a national-level competition to raise fight stamina, but Seymour said he could not do any training in order for his hand to heal following surgery.
The injury resulted in him missing the provincial championships, held last fall.
By January, Seymour’s cast was off and managed to catch a break when he pulled off a knockdown in assessment fights to allow him to earn a wild card spot and compete.
“I found out three weeks later that I was 100-per cent picked, and I got told to book the tickets to Calgary,” he said.
“It was a lot with training up to Nationals and rehabbing my hand but then also rehabbing my whole right side was definitely a huge challenge as well.”
“I had to rebuild my forearm muscles, my shoulder muscles, and make sure the joints in my elbow and shoulder weren’t going to get wrecked from trying to train after doing nothing for a month-and-a-half.”
Carter Seymour (left), claimed silver at the recently held Nationals in Calgary .Photo: Dog Pound Boxing Academy/Facebook
Getting to Calgary, Seymour faced a tough road to reach the podium, fighting the provincial champion from Ontario in his first bout and then taking down a previous national silver medalist from Saskatchewan to reach the final.
Then, more adversity, as Seymour controlled the first round, but suffered an eye injury against a top opponent from Quebec that led to the bout being halted.
Still, Seymour had a lot to be proud of for overcoming hardships and advancing to the 75kg weight class for the first time, moving up from his previous bracket of 70kg and getting a chance to fight with and against some new teammates.
“Getting to travel that far for boxing was a huge step,” he expressed.
“I’d never flown anywhere, really, let alone for boxing, so that was a huge accomplishment.”
Seymour’s mother Kassie said the Dog Pound community and their family was proud no matter what the outcome was.
“Just to even get there, and to land second in Canada is pretty crazy, especially, as it was the first time he’s even fought in (the 75kg) weight class.”
Seymour thanked his sponsors, family and support group at the Academy for getting behind him wholeheartedly on his journey.
The next major goals to spin off the national appearance toward for Seymour, is an appearance at provincials and an aim to make his pro debut by the middle of next year.
More on Dog Pound Boxing Academy can be seen on its Facebook page.
Photo: Dog Pound Boxing Academy/Facebook
