Lennox Lewis. Shawn O'Sullivan. Willie DeWitt. Dale Walters.
The blood and sweat of Canadian boxing legends permeates within the hallowed halls of the Burnaby Heights Resource Centre.
Amateur fighters - including six Olympic medalists - have been coming to the old schoolhouse for over 30 years to hone their skills at the sweet science, compete and make a name for themselves.
But like all warriors from bygone eras, it's time for the sturdy building to hang up the gloves.
"The building has been around since the 1920s so it's up for demolition at the end of the year," said former Olympic boxer Manny Sobral, who runs the North Burnaby Boxing Club out of the same gym. "It's an important site. People who have boxed in Western Canada know all about this site. The Olympic teams in the '80s trained here, it's hosted dozens of Golden Gloves and the Canadian junior national championships."
But like any true champ, Burnaby Heights has one last fight left in it and is ready to go out on its shield.
The NBBC is hosting its 12th and final "Friday Night Fights" event at the centre.
Not only will the card feature 15 amateur bouts, many of the people who paid their dues at the gym, including Walters, will be acknowledged throughout the night.
"It will be one of those reminiscing kind of nights, a celebration," said Sobral. "It's just too bad we can't hand everyone a sledgehammer at the end and let us be the ones to take it down."
