A sense of pride: in who you are, in where you’re from, in your work, in your life. That’s what Tequila Cazadores® is all about. And it’s why they’re thrilled to be the exclusive sponsor of the Bartender Boxing Organization, a charitable non-profit exhibitionist sporting organization that promotes healthy lifestyles in the bartending community.
Bartenders across North America trained for 90 days, squeezing intensive boxing sessions around packed schedules and late night shifts at the bar. They had one goal: to win a championship belt for their hometown. The event pits city-against-city, bartender-against-bartender, for a chance at glory. Tequila Cazadores and the BBO helped them achieve it.
Here are the Tales of the Tape, Canada edition: Montreal versus Toronto. These two cities went head to head in the boxing ring to determine, one and for all, which city’s boxers will take home that belt.
Whose corner are you in? Only one way to find out who won: vote!
Brooke Webber versus Valerie
Name: Brooke Webber
City: Toronto
The big day: The day of the competition I was nervous…very nervous. Watching the fights backstage with my team helped me relax, but also got me amped up. Music was a huge part of me preparing for my fight.
In the ring: When I finally got in the ring, the nerves went away. I blocked everyone out and the only voice in my head was my coach. I focused on his words of wisdom before the bell rang to start the round. I was ready.
Celebrating success: I celebrated with my Toronto team, with salsa dancing and tequila. Everyone on my team did an awesome job.
Name: Valerie
City: Montreal
The big day: Traveling to Toronto made me realize this wasn't just a boxing match and that I was going to need to show character and determination. I had my best friend—who lives in Toronto—with me, which kept me very calm before the fight. I was anticipating the ring, the lights, and the crowd, but there was no way I could have prepared for the feeling of stepping up in the ring. Especially not being at home.
In the ring: Before the fight I wasn't feeling much. I was very calm. It wasn’t until they called my name that I started feeling fear and stress. When you are sparring in a familiar environment, against people you know, there is a level of comfort. You know they won't try to knock you out. Deep down you know you won't get hurt. On the other hand, when you step into the ring for an actual fight, your opponent will try to knock you out. If you drop your guard for one second they will not hesitate to give as many punches as they can in that opening. This increased risk of getting injured causes something that you don’t experience in sparring, which is fear. The addition of fear is one of the biggest reasons why competition feels so different than sparring. We all have a natural response whenever we encounter a dangerous situation. While this evolutionary response is great to help us survive dangerous situations, it doesn’t work well when it comes to boxing.
Celebrating success: I didn’t really celebrate—I had a nice meal with my close friends, and went to bed happy. It takes a lot just to be able to walk into that ring. Celebration is for those who thinks they finished their course: mine just started. I am still training boxing 3-4 times a week, and eventually, once I am ready, I will get back into the ring.
Rob Renda versus Pier-Yves Nadeau
Name: Rob Renda
City: Toronto
The big day: I am a trained theater actor, and being backstage at the boxing event preparing for my match gave me more anxiety than any play or audition. Luckily for me, I had the support of my team. I relied on core techniques and drills to keep me focused and get myself in the right mindset.
In the ring: It was exhilarating! When the lights are up and all eyes are on you, it is energizing. You take in everything: the height of the ropes, the announcer, the referees, your coach in your corner. But when the bell rang for my first round, all my attention went to my opponent. I had to do what I had to do.
Celebrating success: I can distinctly remember that my first thought was thanking and congratulating my opponent on a good show. I’m proud of what we all accomplished and hope to continue achieving similar and bigger goals.
Name: Pier-Yves Nadeau
City: Montreal
The big day: The day of the fight I was pretty anxious about getting in the ring, in front of all these people and my friends and family. As my fight grew closer, the stress kept building until the bell rang. Then silence. Only me and my opponent were left in my universe.
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In the ring: Standing in the ring made me realize the luck I had to be chosen to participate in this program. I felt proud of the hardships we had endured as a team to get there.
Celebrating success: Well, to be honest, I celebrated as bartenders celebrate best: partied with the team. We reminisced all the best and worst moments on the road we traveled together.
Chantelle Gabino versus Meriem Iddir
Name: Chantelle Gabino
City: Toronto
The big day: The day of the competition was like trying to stay afloat on a wave of emotions. I have always been a very active person throughout my life, but have never had a chance to perform or train at such a level, especially with such immense support from BBO and Cazadores.
In the ring: It’s a rollercoaster ride. Adrenaline is pumping, you’re excited, nervous, and focused all at the same time. What really moved me was the immense support from my family, friends, colleagues, and community that came out. I fought this fight for them, but I also fought this fight for personal victory.
Celebrating success: When toasting to anyone’s success, it’s to those of my fellow members of the Toronto team, this unit, this newly acquired family. I would not have been able to do it without them.
Name: Meriem Iddir
City: Montreal
The big day: The day of the competition was very exciting as well as nerve wracking. I took some time to get all my emotions together and just focus on what great experience Tequila Cazadores and BBO offered me. I gave all my best for the program and felt that my coach gave me the best training possible.
In the ring: First, to both organizations that gave me this incredible opportunity. I am truly grateful. I also toasted my friends and family, some of whom drove 6 hours from Montreal to Toronto for the big finals. Then I toasted my fellow boxers. We all put so much hard work into this to better ourselves.
Most PopularCelebrating success: First, to both organizations that gave me this incredible opportunity. I am truly grateful. I also toasted my friends and family, some of whom drove 6 hours from Montreal to Toronto for the big finals. Then I toasted my fellow boxers. We all put so much hard work into this to better ourselves.
Dustin Keating versus Julien Larocque
Name: Dustin Keating
City: Toronto
The big day: After spending countless hours training in the gym, running in my spare time, and mentally preparing for what was to come, I was anxious and ultimately excited to get in the ring. For those 24 hours it was all I could think about.
In the ring: I remember my walk-out music and I remember talking to my coaches. I have one or two vivid memories of participating in the fight itself, but otherwise it’s a mixture of rudimentary thoughts like “punch,” “don’t get punched,” and “breathe.”
Celebrating success: Following the final fight I gorged myself on anything within arms’ reach, and only a few days later jumped on a plane destined for Oktoberfest in Munich. Work hard, play hard, right?
Name: Julien Larocque
City: Montreal
The big day: After spending countless hours training in the gym, running in my spare time, and mentally preparing for what was to come, I was anxious and ultimately excited to get in the ring. For those 24 hours it was all I could think about.
In the ring: I remember my walk-out music and I remember talking to my coaches. I have one or two vivid memories of participating in the fight itself, but otherwise it’s a mixture of rudimentary thoughts like “punch,” “don’t get punched,” and “breathe.”
Celebrating success: Following the final fight I gorged myself on anything within arms’ reach, and only a few days later jumped on a plane destined for Oktoberfest in Munich. Work hard, play hard, right?
Matthew Kopysh versus Sam Turp
Name: Matthew Kopysh
Most PopularCity: Toronto
The big day: I filled the days leading up to the semifinal fight with some pretty serious self care. Training was really hard on a shoulder that I tweaked rope-climbing a few months prior, so I took a few hours with an osteopath to reset it. To ease my mind and relax my body I floated in a sensory deprivation tank for 2 hours before bed. I was a bundled knot of nerves the day of...but so was my opponent.
In the ring: I’ve never had a more surreal experience in my life. I knew it was going to be a good turnout, but walking out in front of hundreds of onlookers was humbling to say the least.
Celebrating success: To be perfectly frank I forgot how averse I am to violence until my opponent and I stepped up and started clobbering each other, so my immediate post-fight celebration was a little weep in the stairwell afterwards. After that was out of my system I headed to my favorite bar in Toronto and drank a gigantic margarita out of my trophy, which will probably live on as one of the top 10 best moments of my life.
Name: Sam Turp
City: Montreal
The big day: Obviously the intensity was high and the jitters were present but I was mainly excited. After three months of training you get to show what you are made of. It was time to fight and I was ready.
In the ring: It was an experience like no other. Real fighters wait years to hopefully then fight in front of 400-500 people in such venues. To have the opportunity to do this without real experience was humbling and exciting.
Celebrating success: The first thing I wanted to do was stuff my face, so the first stop was the first street hot dog stand I could find. I double parked the car and crushed that hot dog.
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