The Shaw Festival continues its traditional Annual Boxing Evening on April 22nd. This 13th bout will be held once again at the Royal York Hotel and features Canadian Welterweight Champion Fitzroy Vanderpool against Edmonton's Ron Pasek in a 12-round bout for the World Federation Intercontinental Welterweight Championship. The couple tangled for the Canadian title this past November with Vanderpool eking out a split decision.

A second fight pits Billy "The Kid" Irwin against Windsor's Andy Wong. Irwin is a former British Commonwealth Champion with a record of 22-1, including 13 KO's. Event matchmaker Vince Bagnato describes Wong, believed to be the only Chinese professional fighter in North America, as "tougher than a two-dollar steak."

A six-round Middleweight bout between two undefeated fighters will complete the card. Kingsley Ikeke (4-0-0) will meet the Arizona Assassin, Israel Eleazar Escandon (7-0-0).

The Boxing Evening is the Shaw Festival's largest fundraiser of the year and in its 12-year history has raised more than $1.2 million for the theatre. It is also believed to be the largest charity boxing event of its kind in the world. In addition, the evening has become an important career mark for many of North America's up-and-coming boxers.

Spider Jones, recently inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame as a journalist and colour commentator, will once again serve as Master of Ceremonies. Tickets to the Shaw Boxing Event, April 22, are $395 per person and can be ordered by calling 905 468-2153.

By Mira Friedlander
Canadian Correspondent