SHEDIAC - Eric Roy continues to amaze boxing promoter Dwayne Storey.
TANYA EVERETT/TIMES AND TRANSCRI
Eric Roy of St-Basile, left, battles it out with Moncton's Jonah Arbuckle, defeating him in the second round of the co-main event of a professional boxing card on Saturday in Shediac for the Canadian super middleweight boxing championship.
The 27-year-old St-Basile native, in just his eighth professional fight after no amateur bouts, captured the Canadian Professional Boxing Federation super middleweight title by knocking out veteran Jonah Arbuckle in the second round Saturday night before a capacity crowd at Louis-J-Robichaud High School in Shediac.
Arbuckle, a 34-year-old Moncton resident and former New Brunswick champion, posted a six-round unanimous decision win over Roy in August in Shediac in their only previous meeting.
"Eric made all of the necessary adjustments and he looked like a champion," Storey said. "I think he's got a great future in the sport because of his power. He's got a powerful punch with world-class power."
Roy has less than two years of boxing experience.
"He has six months to defend his title so we'll be looking for challengers in the new year," Storey said. "He's going to have a lot of big fights in his future."
The promoter praised the work of trainer Hermel Poitras, who prepared Basile for the rematch with Arbuckle.
Meanwhile, the scheduled co-main event between Julien Collette of Bouctouche and Sylvain Roy of St-Basile for the New Brunswick, Maritime and Eastern Canadian heavyweight titles was called off after Collette injured himself during warm-ups in his dressing room before the bout.
Collette will be examined by doctors this week. If he is sidelined for a few months, Roy will be permitted to fight for the Eastern Canadian title against an undetermined opponent.
Shediac's Emile Arsenault (6-1) knocked out Eel River Crossing's Guy Desforges (4-6) for the New Brunswick cruiserweight title. Arsenault is ranked seventh in Canada.
Shediac's Patrick (The Kid) Arsenault improved to 4-0 by knocking out Eel River Crossing's Ron Savoie (6-7-1) in the fifth round. Savoie is a former Canadian super welterweight titleholder.
Cap-Pelé's Kevin Cormier recorded his third straight first-round knockout by flattening Fredericton's Justin Henderson, who was making his professional debut.
Storey expects to promote his next card in February.
