Wayne Sponagle didn't have to look hard to find the guy he considers the best boxer Prince George has ever produced.
Laurie Mann was sitting right next to Sponagle for a media scrum Thursday at the Northland Chrysler Jeep Dodge car dealership, where Mann works in vehicle sales.
Mann, whose boxing prowess landed him in the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame, will be the honoured guest at the Laurie Mann Tribute amateur boxing fight card/dinner show March 17 at the Northern Sport Centre.
"I honestly believe that Laurie Mann was without a doubt -- Prince George, B.C. - Canada -- the finest amateur boxer we ever had, there's been none better in the past and I haven't seen any better yet," said Sponagle.
"Along with the boxing, they've been a great Prince George family. Our community is built on people like this. It's a great sports town and I'm hoping the people who remember Laurie and the new younger generation coming up will come out and pay their respects to a Prince George legend."
Mann's 26-year career as a boxer included more than 150 fights. The son of 1960 Commonwealth Games boxing champion Harold Mann was a six-time Canadian amateur champion and was named best boxer of the national championships three times. If not for the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Laurie would have represented Canada at the Games.
During his professional career he defeated three opponents (Roland Williams, Bruce Finch and Jorge Morales) who were all at one time ranked No. 1 in the world in their weight category. He retired in 1992 with a 31-4 record as a pro, after scoring a unanimous 10-round decision over Al Harper in Prince George.
Never one to go after the spotlight, the 52-year-old Mann is nonetheless looking forward to be the honoured guest at ringside on St. Patrick's Day.
"It's an honour, I feel very honoured by this," he said. "[But] I'd rather fight.
"The clock went by rapidly and we boxed a lot of great people. We were in around the top 10 in the world and we grew up shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best boxers on the planet. I got to spar with world champions and have dinner with them and it felt good."
Injuries to his hands put an end to Mann's career and he still feels those aches and pains, 19 years after he retired.
Headlining the fight card will be Thomas Speirs, a silver medalist at the Canadian championships a month ago in Cape Breton, N.S. The 21-year-old Speirs will move up to the heavyweight class to take on an undisclosed opponent from Fernie.
"It's a big card for a great fighter -- Laurie Mann -- and it makes me feel really good I'll be in the main event," said Speirs. "I'm a small 178 pounder and I'm going to be a real small heavyweight but I'm not concerned. I'm confident with my skill I'm going to win."
Robbie Cusine of Spruce Capital will also be on the card against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. Cusine, the B.C. 64kg champion, also fought at the national tournament in Nova Scotia, eliminated in the first round.
Cusine says he'd love to have his first Prince George fight against Inner City Boxing Club member Jag Seehra, the Canadian 60kg bronze medalist. Cusine would also be willing to shed a few kilograms to take on Kenny Lally of Inner City, the 52kg Canadian champion.
"The names are out there and I'm ready for either one of them, Kenny or Jag, and that's what I'm hoping for," said Cusine, 20, who moved to Prince George from Edmonton late in 2010 to train with Sponagle, now head coach of the B.C. team.
"To fight on a card that's a tribute to Laurie Mann, who is Prince George's idol of boxing, is going to be a huge honour. His belts and medals speak for themselves. Hopefully I can put in a good performance and hopefully the other part of Prince George can help me do that."
