Many times you see the same boxers year after year as they get in the ring and try to improve on last year’s showing.
But for the vast majority of fighters, entering the Toughman is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
Many of the men try to prove just how tough they are.
Some of the men had played sports in high school and like the competition.
Others see the prize money and would like to win.
Still others enter the Toughman for other reasons.
Earlier this decade, a female hairdresser entered the women’s division on a bet from friends.
Whatever the reason, the Toughman has been entertaining Logan area fans for more than two decades. This year’s Toughman, the 22nd-annual event, is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday nights at Logan High School’s Willie Akers Arena.
Bell time is set for 7:30 p.m. each night.
West Virginia Toughman promoter Jerry Thomas has been at all of the previous 21 Toughman events at Logan.
“Overall, we see a predominately different group. You’ll see some familiar names but about three-fourths of the fighters are new,” Thomas said. “I think that always makes it interesting. We’re excited to meet and see the new people.”
Some of the familiar faces who will be at this year’s Toughman are Daniel Hensley, Bob Seakelly and Carl Goff, who will be serving as trainers. Hensley, a Chapmanville native, is a former Toughman champion and undefeated pro fighter. Goff, who hails from Man, won the men’s heavyweight title at the Logan Toughman the previous two years and will also be working the corners with the boxers.
Also making his return to the ring this year is Verdunville’s Jordan Moore, who captured the men’s light heavyweight Toughman titles at Logan in 2006 and 2007. Toughman rules don’t allow for a fighter to compete for a third title in the same division, so Moore has moved up to the tougher heavyweight class this time around.
“Daniel Hensley will be working as a trainer again,” Thomas said. “Bob Seakelly is back and Carl Goff, who is the former two-time champion, will also be working as a trainer in the corner. He’s been working with the fighters in the Man area. Daniel has been working with the fighters in the Chapmanville and Logan areas. Daniel’s been helping train Jordan Moore. Jason Smith has also done some training. He’s a former Toughman champion and an undefeated boxer professionally. Jason is still in the Logan area and he’s training to make a comeback.”
Another longtime Toughman fighter — “Laughin’” Larry Whitt — will also be boxing again this year.
“There’s a lot of familiar faces and names, too. One of those is Larry Whitt. He’s back this year,” Thomas said. “He’s a former champion and he’s been training with Big Carl. Carl’s been working out with him and he said that it’s amazing how strong Larry is. I think that we’re going to have a good event. In fact, it might be one of the better ones that we’ve had with guys like Jordan Moore, Bo Darby and Larry Whitt.”
For more information on the Toughman visit the official website at: www.wvtoughman.com.
To charge tickets by phone or to sign up to fight call 1-800-296-3897.
Post a Comment
