And it isn鈥檛 all about the 41 provincial, national, world champion and pro fighters that have come out of Peterec鈥檚 Gym. Even the off-the-street duffers have compelling stories. Many will be re-told at the gym鈥檚 25th anniversary reunion Saturday night at the Edelweiss Club (Info: 250-885-7441).
鈥淭his little stinky gym has saved lives 鈥� I know because people have come back and told me,鈥� said owner-operator Stan Peterec, a legend in Island boxing, kick-boxing and mixed-martial arts.
鈥淪ometimes, people need an outlet.鈥�
Peterec鈥檚 Gym has been there to provide it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be emotional for me Saturday,鈥� admitted Peterec.
In his prime, Peterec was taut muscle ready to uncoil. He has worked with the L.A.P.D. and Israeli special forces. The Victoria Sports Hall of Famer was rated the fourth-toughest man in the world in a 2006 article by the authoritative Black Belt Magazine. Only the pro careers of three fighters 鈥� Jack Johnson, Roberto Duran and Peterec 鈥� have spanned five decades. He says that was special not only in its own right, but because Duran is his hero.
Yet, don鈥檛 let any of the more rugged aspects of his craft fool you. Peterec is also known as the Humble Warrior. That may be the most apt description of the soft-spoken 57-year-old former national and world champion kick-boxer, who has trained 18 world champions across an array of disciplines, including boxer Donny Lalonde.
It started at age 15 in his hometown of Port Alberni when Peterec turned to a karate gym to learn how to defend himself against an older schoolyard bully: 鈥淵ou never know how one thing is going to pave the way to other things in your life.鈥�
It all comes full circle Saturday night, at least the 25 years of it owning his own gym.
鈥淚 might not have made millions, but I have been as happy as anyone has ever been in the job they do,鈥� said Peterec.
鈥淓very day in the gym is like being a kid again.鈥�
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