'The Tornado' won't be blowing into Prince George after all.
For his first-ever fight as a professional, local boxer Thomas Speirs was supposed to take on Tyler 'The Tornado' Lee during a March 2 card at the Roll-A-Dome. But Lee, who is from Halifax, apparently suffered a cut while in a sparring session earlier this week and was forced to cancel his trip west.
Wayne Sponagle, who coaches Speirs at the Spruce Capital Boxing Club, spent the past few days trying to find a new opponent for his fighter and met with success on Wednesday. Speirs will now step into the ring with Keith McGraw, who hails from Bathurst, N.B.
Sponagle knows little about McGraw expect for the fact he'll also be making his professional debut.
"He's pretty much the same as Thomas," Sponagle said. "I think it's going to be a really good test for both boys and hopefully Thomas will come out on top."
Speirs and McGraw will fight in the 172-pound weight class. The bout is scheduled for four rounds.
Speirs, 22, compiled a 34-7 record as an amateur and was a silver-medalist at the 2012 senior national championships.
The March 2 card will offer up 10 bouts. Some of them will be professional tilts and others will fall under the category of what Sponagle calls "pro-style amateur boxing." The fight night has been sanctioned by the British Columbia Combative Sports Association and has been given the green light by the Prince George Athletic Commission.
Other local fighters scheduled to make appearances include Marcus Hume, Hank Lukan, Derek Ellerton, Bruce Whall and George Davies.
Tickets are available at Westwood Sports Pub, Downtown Fitness Studio and Rocky Mountain Fitness. They can also be purchased at the door on the night of the card.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and boxing will start at 7 p.m.
