Rockford Boxing Classic to debut outdoors under the Rockford City Market pavilion
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — For roughly the past five years, Jimmy Goodman has envisioned an outdoor boxing event underneath the downtown Rockford City Market pavilion. The ring would be surrounded by spectators, and food trucks would keep the crowd fed.
This summer that vision becomes reality.
Goodman, the director of Rockford Patriots Boxing Club, and Plus Seven Company on Tuesday announced the inaugural Rockford Boxing Classic. The goal is to make it the region’s premier outdoor boxing event, and it will serve as a fundraiser for the boxing club.
“It’s just a perfect spot for it,” Goodman said of the City Market site. “We hope everyone comes out, enjoys the live boxing and helps support the Rockford Patriots Boxing Club.
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The event is slated for Saturday, Aug. 13 and will feature about 12-15 amateur matches. Competitors will include Cory Magnuson, a Rockford police officer, and Marice Radke, a Rockford firefighter. A complete bout lineup will be announced later.
“We’ll have some good amateur boxing. You’ll see some of our local faces here that we have at the community center boxing gym,” Goodman said. “One day, you never know, maybe you’ll see some of these guys on Pay Per View holding up the world title somewhere.”
The boxers will range in age from 8 to their 30s, and Magnuson and Radke will compete in bouts that pit police officers against firefighters.
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Magnuson, a 29-year-old officer who has worked with Goodman to help youth at the boxing club, says the event will be a good opportunity for people to see what boxing is all about. It’s also a chance for parents to see the level of skill and training involved.
“There’s almost always a lot of respect for the person you’re fighting that’s in there with you,” he said. “There’s no grudges or bad blood, stuff like that, it’s two competitors seeing who has the upper hand that night.”
“You put a lot of effort and dedication into the gym and then it’s two competitors showcasing their skill.”
The event is funded with the help of the city’s Forward for Fun initiative, which allocated money toward free events intended to help boost business activity and further pandemic recovery. There was also sponsorship from Fehr Graham, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Northwestern Building Trades unions, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 23, RMTD, Blackhawk Bank and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Guests are encouraged to support the club by purchasing a ringside table for eight for $250. General admission is free, and you can bring lawn chairs for seating.
Know before you go | Rockford Boxing Classic
Date: Saturday, Aug. 13
Time: 5 p.m. (gates open), 6 p.m. youth bouts begin, 8 p.m. police and fire bouts
Cost: Free
Location: Rockford City Market pavilion, State and Water streets in downtown Rockford
For more information: RockfordBoxingClassic.com
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas
