Ian “The Don” Cannon (1-0) celebrates his upset win over NABF featherweight champion Matt “sharp shooter” Remillard in the sports first wheelchair boxing bout. Though still undefeated and champ “off” the chair, Remillard drops to 0-1 in his wheelchair boxing debut.

 

Remillard, Cannon battle to a standing “O”

On the rise to boxing stardom “off” the wheelchair, undefeated NABF featherweight champion Matt Remillard found himself in a slugfest during his “wheelchair boxing” debut on the “Fight the Good Fight” fundraiser event June 26th at the Hartford Convention Center.

     “He brought his game tonight,” Remillard said after his 3 round unanimous decision loss to Ian “The Don” Cannon. “He’s got a great right hook and his stamina is amazing. I might have taken him lightly. I definitely want a rematch.”
     A toe-to-toe slugfest, Remillard kept the bout close, flurrying late in round three, but it was too little too late. Fueled from the standing ovation of a crowd that exceeded 3,000 people, Cannon never stopped throwing punches.

    “After I dropped him with the right hook I knew I had it,” said an exuberant Cannon after the bout. “But, as it sometimes goes in boxing, you never want to leave it to the judges, so I never let up.”

    Cannon used slick body movement and a “peek-a-boo” style defense to counter his more experienced opponent with quick flurries.

    “I fought him in the classic amateur boxing style. I just out-hustled and out-punched him,” he added.

    As for Remillard’s career: “I’m still undefeated off the wheelchair,” he said confidently. “And I plan on keeping it that way. But I’d like a rematch if Cannon would grant me one.”

     Ian?

     “I will absolutely grant him a rematch. Just for the fact that he gave me a shot in the first place. He’s a good sport and a great champ.”

      As for Ian’s next opponent? 

     “I got my sights set on a legend,” he said with a grin. Though he wouldn’t reveal who this legend is, he sometimes referred to him as “Boom Boom.” One can only guess.
�

 

ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES, wheelchair boxing, is the creation and dream of seventeen-year-old, Glastonbury Connecticut native, Ian Cannon. The program was developed as a way to help people who are wheelchair bound to strengthen their muscles and gain flexibility and confidence. Ian, who has cerebral palsy, uses his training techniques to gain strength, but does not dismiss the benefits of how his training has helpled him mentally.

“It’s been an amazing journey so far,” said Cannon, in between focus mitt work with strength trainer and Lion’s Den instructor, Jason Gruzcka. “I got into this strictly as a way to gain strength and flexibility, but then it turned into something more.”

That “something more” Ian was referring to is a dream to actually become a boxer. “To most people, it sounded crazy. But then again, anytime someone achieves something amazing, there’s always people saying it couldn’t or shouldn’t be tried. With help along the way from top local pro’s John Scully, Pito Cardona and top coach Johnny Callas, I’ve learned a lot. As important as the physical benefits it has had on me, it has helped me mentally, boosting my confidence in ways I can’t describe.”

And after three years of training, Ian’s progress, determination and over-all desire to see his program flourish has been recognized by many of boxing’s “top” names, including: Top trainer and former lightweight contender Freddie Roach, MMA lightweight contender Kenny Florian, local promoter Jimmy Burchfield and former heavyweight contender Marvis Frazier, to name some.

“The only thing left to do now is showcase what I’ve learned in the ring,” Ian said. “It’s time. I hope by doing this many others who are wheelchair bound will realize that this sport, whether they compete or not, is a wonderful way to get in shape and strengthen muscles. In fact, my health has improved drastically. I thoroughly believe that my boxing training has prevented a surgury I’ve been scheduled for for years now.”

And as for being disabled?

“Disabled? I truly hope my efforts here show others, not wheelchair bound, to get up off the couch and not only start achieving their dreams, but to hopefully help others to achieve theirs. It is important that people fortunate enough to have a fully functioning body realize they are very fortunate and know there are others out there without this advantage who are making the most of their lives without complaint. Remember, you don’t need arms and legs to help those in need, you need a strong and willing mind. That I got.”

When put like that, “disabled” hardly seems a good word to describe this young man.

 

To find out more about this program, please call the Lion’s Den Training Center at 860-613-2394.