B-train picks up Seehra

Jag Seehra knew the odds were stacked before he climbed through the ropes to face Alex Rynn Thursday.

At that stage of the game it didn't matter to the 21-year-old Inner City Boxing Club lightweight. He'd already cashed his winning lottery ticket a day earlier at the Boxing Canada final team selections in Ste. Hyacinthe, Que., when he locked up his B team berth.

As expected, Seehra lost 11-2 to Rynn, a two-time national champion from Calgary, in the 60-kilogram final. But there was no tinge of disappointment in Seehra's voice when he spoke about his accomplishments this week, which brought into focus his immediate future with Team Canada on the international boxing scene.

"I'm really pumped right now, we came here for the B spot and we got it," said Seehra. "Just knowing how deep this weight class was -- there were 16 guys -- and I still came out as Number 2. I'm really proud of myself."

Rynn, 23, won three fights for Canada at the Commonwealth Games last fall in India and Seehra knew it would be tough slogging trying to knock him off the A team. He shook off Thursday's loss as a lesson learned.

"Last year I fought Cam O'Connell at the nationals and I lost to him but he showed me where I needed to be for next year," said Seehra. "Every time I lose it's a learning experience and this is just going to make me a better fighter."

A win over Rynn would have opened an A team spot for Seehra.

"Rynn is so physically strong it was just hard for Jag to deal with," said Inner City coach Bob Pegues. "I said all along I didn't think Jag was ready to fight the best in the world and he needed the training camps and international experience that comes with B team. Jag's goal was the B team and he achieved that goal in wonderful style. It's not as glorious, but it's certainly the right thing to do."

As a B team member, Seehra could be part of Canada's team at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in October if he does well at Pan-Am qualifying tournaments in Brazil and Ireland.

On Wednesday, Seehra scored a 9-3 decision over reigning 60kg national champion Ayez Hussain of Montreal to lock up his B team spot, on the same day Inner City fighter Kenny Lally won the 54kg tournament to secure his place on the national A team.

As part of the A squad, Lally will be entered in the elite world championships, Sept. 22-Oct. 10 in Baku, Ajerbaijan. He will also be invited to the national team training camps with Seehra in advance of international tournaments that lead to the elite world tournament, a qualifying event for the 2012 Olympics. A top-eight finish there would place Lally on the 2012 Olympic team in London. He and Seehra are projected as possibilities for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Both will be required to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 annually to fund their trips.

Lally, as an A team member, will become a carded athlete, eligible for Sport Canada funding of $700 per month tis year, jumping to $1,400 per month next year and every year after. He also receives physiotherapy and sports psychologist services free of charge. For every year he is with the national team, he will receive a year of university tuition.

"Boxers peak at 26 or 27 years old and these guys will both be in that age group for the 2016 Olympics, plus both will hopefully be with the national team for all that time," said Pegues. "There's all kinds of cool stuff that will come with this."

Pegues learned Thursday Boxing Canada wants him to serve as coach of its youth national development (16-19-year-old) team. Pegues can still attend the international tournaments that involve Lally and Seehra but would be there as their personal coach.

"They want me in the group of developing athletes, not the ones who are already done," said Pegues. "The new program for national team coaches means I have to sign a contract and commit to it and it's kind of neat, but it's different.

"It makes sense in that all the good stuff we've done with the younger group coming up, they recognize that and want that kind of style taught to the youth, and I certainly wouldn't turn it down."

The 57-year-old Pegues still works full time at Canfor.

"I'm three years away from retirement and I'm trying to shortcut it a bit," he said.