Packing a punch

Wolseley

OSBORNE VILLAGE

Eric Marshall leans back on one of his custom-built springers in the dim light of a private shop. Underneath the brim of his baseball cap, a painful-looking shiner darkens his right eye.

Marshall is a boxer — one of 16 Manitobans who will fight in Boxing Canada’s 2025 Elite National Championships, set for Nov. 26 to 30 at the Sport Manitoba building (145 Pacific St.), the first time in 30 years that Boxing Canada’s elite competition has been held in Winnipeg.

Elite nationals are for amateur boxers over 18 years old, with each provincial association allowed to enter two fighters in each male and female weight class.

When he’s not training, Marshall builds custom motorcycles and owns and operates his own business, Northern Springers. The bikes are put together at his shop and typically sold to buyers in the U.S.

“I got into the sport a little bit later than most people,” the 35-year-old said, adding that he’s been boxing for about eight years.

When he started, Marshall said he hadn’t been enjoying his lifestyle and felt he was outgrowing most of the hobbies he’d normally spend time on. With the help of a friend already involved in the sport, he quickly fell into it.

Marshall will be fighting for Manitoba in the light-heavyweight (80 kilogram) class. The last time he competed on a national scale was two years ago, when he placed bronze as a novice at the annual Canada Cup tournament in Calgary, Alta.

“I think boxing has a lot of concept behind it,” he said. “Where people think it’s more of a really rough sport and not organized, the reality of it is it’s a lot like chess. It’s a very technical sport, and there’s a lot of thinking behind it and a lot of theory. And I think when I started it, I wasn’t sure what I knew about it, and I was thankful enough to have the right coaching and to have been taught that theory behind it … That’s how I kind of fell into it, for the love of it.”

Competing in Winnipeg will have a different shine to it, as well.

“As a competitor, your goal is to do the best you can and win, yeah? The reality of it is, for me, it’s my hometown — I’m gonna go and enjoy every moment of it.

“I’m gonna go into the ring with my head held high, and regardless of the outcome, I’m gonna leave the ring with my head held high,” Marshall said.

Marshall said he’s also excited for friends and family to see him box — people who will support him win or lose. He is Métis, and said he’s looking forward to representing that community, too.

As his own boss, Marshall’s schedule allows for his intense training regimen — twice a day, six days a week. His home gym is United Boxing Club (5-201 Scott St.), where he trains and even teaches.

“You’re not going to be on par with the other opponent (if you don’t train properly),” he said. “And that is taxing … I’m very lucky that I can wake up, go train and come to work when I want.”

Self-discipline is key, the Wolseley resident added: “You’re never going to be motivated to do something every day, and that’s where discipline comes into play.”

He can’t speak highly enough of the group at United.

“The entire coaching staff is great there,” he said. “I’d highly recommend (it to) anyone who is been interested in the sport, or wants to dive into the sport, but has been a little bit shy or have a little bit of gym anxiety … just go and show up, and once your foot’s in the door, you’ll realize how welcoming it is. Everyone at United is so supportive and has always been, over the years, with me, and I can’t thank them enough.”

To see Marshall’s work, visit @northern.springers on Instagram. To learn more about United Boxing Club, visit unitedboxingclub.ca

To learn more about the Canadian Elite Boxing Championships, visit boxingcanada.org/nationals