Adam Braidwood said he knows of no other way of honouring the memory of his friend Tim Hague than to just keep fighting.聽
Braidwood will do that tonight when he headlines Summer Slugfest VII at Western Speedway in the featured heavyweight bout against Wilfredo Leal of Mexico.
Former UFC fighter Hague eventually got to his feet after being knocked out in the second round by Braidwood, in a bout June 16 in Edmonton, but the 34-year-old died two days later in hospital of a brain injury. The death has led to calls for more stringent licensing requirements for boxers and more protections for them in the ring.
鈥淚 will never get over it. But I try to turn that into motivation,鈥� said Braidwood, during Thursday鈥檚 weigh-in at the V-Lounge in the Red Lion Inn.
鈥淭he only way to conquer adversity is to continue doing what you do best, but with more intensity. I want to respect and honour [Hague鈥檚] legacy and memory and do all that I can do to have his family taken care of, especially his son [nine-year-old Brady Hague].鈥�
Braidwood has encouraged people to donate to the Hague family on GoFundMe.
鈥淚 wish the best for them and hope to do more as time goes on,鈥� he said.
Tonight was a bout the promoter, Stan Peterec, was unsure would even happen after the Hague tragedy: 鈥淭he fight was already planned, but it was really hard for me to phone [Braidwood] and ask if it was still on. I did not know his mindset. But Adam鈥檚 mindset is right. He could have sat on a barstool. But for him to keep fighting is the best thing that can be done [in this situation].鈥�
The six-foot-four Braidwood began his climb in sports as a football defensive end who went from Seaquam Secondary in Delta to the Rose Bowl with the Washington State Cougars of the NCAA Pac-12. After four seasons with the Cougars, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 CFL draft and played five seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos to 2010. But a football knee injury led to painkillers, which led to opiates and full-on drug addiction, and a life of crime that resulted in prison time for sexual assault. While calling it a 鈥渧ery serious鈥� crime, Justice Eric Macklin in 2013 noted Braidwood鈥檚 deep remorse and described his apology to the victim and community as 鈥渉eart-wrenching.鈥�
Braidwood, who works with at-risk youth, discusses this openly in a frank Ted X talk and video produced by Jesse Hlady Studio: 鈥淚 made bad decisions in life which led me down a really dark path. I鈥檝e been to hell and back.鈥�
Boxing and gyms gave him an outlet and kept him away from other influences, and relocating to the Island after being granted parole in 2015, helped turn the tide of Braidwood鈥檚 life. The 33-year-old is the World Boxing Union heavyweight champion and trains at Zuma Gym in Victoria with Adam Zugec and in Parksville with Richard LeStage.
鈥淚 have five good years left of boxing and I feel I can fight anyone in the world,鈥� said the surprisingly soft-spoken Braidwood, who is 8-1, with seven knockouts.
鈥淚 want to bring a [major] world title to sa国际传媒. I feel that I have still yet to peak.鈥�
Tonight鈥檚 opponent, Leal, is 10-10-2 as a pro and hails from the state of Sinaloa. The Mexican fighter weighed in at 260 pounds to Braidwood鈥檚 242.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know much about [Braidwood] . . . all I know is that he punches hard,鈥� said Leal, through an interpreter.
There will be nine bouts, a mix of male and female kickboxing and MMA, on the undercard leading to the Braidwood-Leal featured heavyweight boxing match.
But all eyes will be on one man trying to outrun his demons.
鈥淎dam Braidwood is the nicest guy outside the ring. He鈥檚 a different guy once he steps in the ring,鈥� said promoter Peterc, a legend in the fight game on the Island.
鈥淭here is a lot of pent-up emotion.鈥�
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