The Night of the Fighting Irish, a boxing card that had been planned for May 3 at the Northern Sport Centre, has suffered a financial knockout.
Event organizer Bob Pegues said the card has been canceled because not enough money could be raised to cover the costs of holding it. He said $25,000 was required. More than half of that - $14,000 - would have been put toward travel expenses and needed to be secured by April 1.
The card would have featured six Irish fighters, two Americans and a contingent of Canadians. Local boxers Kenny Lally and Jag Seehra were among those scheduled to compete.
Pegues said fundraising proved difficult because of the number of local businesses that are already giving financial support to the Canada Winter Games, which will be held in Prince George next February.
"I'm definitely disappointed and it's heartbreaking for the Irish too," Pegues said. "Of course it was like winning the lottery for them - us bringing them out and not asking them to reciprocate. That country is in the financial doldrums right now so it was a big deal for them."
Pegues said he now hopes to hold the card in March of 2015.
-- PETERS, Citizen staff
