Though he didn’t win his first-ever competitive boxing match over the weekend, Dave Patriquin has scored a victory for cancer research fundraising.
The Sault native, now residing in the Batchawana Bay area, was one of 12 people who stepped into the ring to fight in the 2025 Fight To End Cancer Charity Gala in Toronto on Saturday to support the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
Patriquin’s brother died of pancreatic cancer in 2016.
“I feel proud for doing it for him. I think my brother would have been proud of me. I had 16 family members and friends there. I had a buddy come in from Alberta, which was really nice,” Patriquin told SooToday, adding that the fight went well.
“It was good. It was a lot of fun.”
Patriquin fought opponent David Wilkings in three two-minute rounds.
“I won the first round. The second round was a little closer and then he won the third round. The judges gave him the second and third rounds and he got the decision,” Patriquin said.
He trained hard for his fundraiser bout for months with coach Pat Kelly and at Steel City MMA.
How did it feel when he landed that first punch?
“It felt good. I don't have the craziest fighting personality. I’m more of a lover than a fighter but it was still fun,” Patriquin said.
Getting punched woke him up a bit.
“We weren't trying to kill each other but we were both trying to win.”
Regardless of the fight’s outcome, Patriquin is pleased he personally raised over $18,000 for the Fight To End Cancer fundraiser.
Fight To End Cancer requires each boxer to raise their own funds for cancer research in addition to money the organization raises through ticket sales for its boxing matches.
“I had a personal goal of raising $15,000. Friends and family donated. It was pretty humbling to have that much support from people. I thought it was kind of an ambitious goal to raise $15,000 so to raise more than that was pretty cool,” Patriquin said.
The Fight To End Cancer Charity Gala was established in 2011. Originally intended to be a one-time event, it has become an annual event to raise funds for cancer research and includes men and women stepping into the ring for the first time to compete in Olympic-style boxing after months of training.
They wear headgear, mouth guards and use Olympic-style 16-ounce gloves. Each of the 12 participants are matched for six fights with an opponent in the same gender, age bracket and weight class. The fights consist of three two-minute rounds.
In his early 40s, Patriquin stands at six-feet-two inches and weighed in for the fight at 191 pounds.
His opponent, in his mid-30s, stood at six-feet-three inches and weighed 204 pounds.
Each of the 12 first-time boxers - who have had family members or friends affected by cancer - applied to take part in the event. Patriquin was the only northern Ontario boxer chosen for the event, with the other fighters based in southern Ontario.
The annual Fight To End Cancer Charity Gala has raised nearly $3 million for Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation cancer research since 2011.
Fight To End Cancer was hoping to reach the $4 million mark with the May 31 gala.
The black tie gala was held at the Old Mill Toronto, a prestigious venue.
A single seat at the gala cost $650 while ringside seats cost $10,000.
“I don't think the final numbers are in but 100 per cent of what the fight team raised goes to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. The fighters raised close to $200,000. I’m pretty proud of the team,” Patriquin said.
He won’t be returning for another Fight To End Cancer boxing match next year because the organization picks only first time fighters for its fundraiser bouts, but Patriquin said he remains interested in participating in cancer and mental health fundraisers.
More information on Fight To End Cancer and its initiatives can be found here.