Friday Night's all right for a Fight

With the holiday season nigh and my gift shopping finished, I get to truly enjoy the lead up to Christmas with virtually no worries.

I'm probably not going to brave the elements and lineups for any Boxing Day sales but I will be looking forward to boxing of the pugilistic variety.

The local boxing scene has been growing by leaps and bounds and while there aren't any fights of the Mayweather-Hatton variety on the horizon, the boxing spotlight is about to shine on Vancouver.

While there have been boxing cards at the River Rock Casino, fans of the Sweet Science will get a treat on Friday, December 28, 2007 when ESPN will broadcast the Rumble at the Rock III event as part of its Friday Night Fights show.

The event will feature a full card with heavyweight, cruiserweight, welterweight and flyweight bouts amongst others, but another highlight will be former heavyweight champ and Muhammad Ali adversary "Smokin" Joe Frazier, who will be in attendance and The Vancouver Province says 40 million viewers are expected to tune in.

Fitting that the city has boxing during Boxing Week.