Boxing club faces tough test following O'Connell arrest

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” - Charles Dickens Over the last few months, that famous line has certainly served as an apt description of the Red Deer Boxing Club.

Back in August, the non-profit organization, one of the bright lights in our sporting community, was on top of the world after winning a $25,000 upgrade as part of the TSN-Kraft Celebration Tour. That mood quickly changed last week, as the club was rocked when it learned of the arrest of 20-year-old World Champion Cam O’Connell, who now faces multiple charges in connection with a major provincial drug bust, one that government officials are saying is a “major blow” to organized crime in the province. Eleven kilograms of cocaine, nine arrests, and a looming dark cloud now hangs over one of Red Deer’s most respected organizations. They’ve been fighting in rings around the world for many years, and now there’s a new battle to wage. Unfortunately, it may be against public perception. O’Connell, a highly-decorated eight-time provincial champion, was also the 2007 Ringside World Champ, and has quickly become the poster-boy, centerpiece, and prized possession of the club, which in recent months, was beginning to receive more publicity, of the positive kind no less, then it had in years. The beleaguered 20-year-old, who turned himself into police along with two other local men, is featured prominently on the Red Deer Boxing Club’s website, and his inspirational quote is splashed on the front page of the 2009 Rumble in Red Deer page as well: “I have already accomplished many of my lifelong goals and it’s because of the discipline and dedication that I have learned at the Red Deer Boxing Club. I’ve not only become a world champion boxer at the young age of 18-years old, boxing has taught me how to grow from just another troubled youth to a champion in my adult life.” Unfortunately for the Boxing Club, all the time, effort, energy, blood, sweat, and tears invested in this world champion is now in jeopardy, thanks to what appears to be some poor decisions, and even poorer company kept. It remains to be seen what repercussions await after the legal process is complete, but either way, the young fighter has found himself in a world of trouble. But as someone who has covered the Red Deer sporting scene for a number of years, witnessing the good and bad along the way, I will say this: As terrible as this situation is, as poor of timing as it is, if any finger-pointing is to be done, we can be sure of one thing: The boxing club doesn’t deserve any of it. Even before the TSN exposure, the facility, which is home to 50 members annually, was as highly respected as any sports program in Alberta. Founder and President Rob Carswell is nothing short of a hero, and I can only imagine the heartache he must be feeling when it comes to the struggle of one of his closest pupils, a self described “troubled youth”. Carswell, who started the facility back in 1988, has been called “the energy, the heart, and the soul of the club.” All of the coaches volunteer their time. Athletes learn to respect their opponents and themselves, and if they can’t afford to pay membership fees, Carswell and company make sure they don’t have to. In the heart-warming feature aired on Sportscentre this past August, Carswell said: “I don’t think there is any troubled youth beyond repair, who given the proper leadership, can’t come back and make amends for his wrong.” That philosophy will now truly face its toughest test yet. -Andrew Walker has covered the Red Deer sports scene since 2004. He can be heard every morning talking sports on BIG 105 and 1067 The Drive