The Gentlemen’s Expo brings you the absolute best in gentlemanly content, retailers, brands and experiences, every year!  It’s the most fun you will have all year… while still being in public.  We will be hosting sanctioned Olympic boxing matches to celebrate the biggest year yet, for the first time ever.  The event proceeds will benefit the Fight To End Cancer, so you can enjoy a true gentleman’s sport, while raising funds for an incredible cause.
The Friday Night ‘Fights To End Cancer’ will feature Canada’s top boxers.  Fighters in and outside of the ring, the line-up will showcase athletes literally fighting to end cancer.

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Help The Gentlemen’s Expo and the 10 incredible boxers on the fight team raise $10,000.00 by fight night!

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There have been more than 60 fighters who have fought in the event since its inception in 2011 and each and every one of them hold a special place in the FTEC family.  It’s hard to believe that it’s been over been 5 years since the inaugural FTEC Gala and we’ll never forget where we first started and the very first fighters who decided to lace up gloves for this big fight!

Kassandra O’ Reilly and her twin brother Josh were both on the first card of that special night in 2012.
“Is she really going to fight?  Is someone going to actually hit her in the face?”  These questions have consistently trended for the female fighters, since day one.  It has always been extremely important to feature a female bout on the fight card for FTEC Founder, Jennifer Huggins, who explains in her own words:

“Including a female bout in the Fight To End Cancer is an important component of the event.  It’s essential that we create dialogue around women in boxing.  Not only are they raising money to fight cancer, but they are instrumental pieces to the puzzle when it comes to helping people to recognize that boxing is a sport for everyone.”

Kassandra was not only a “real boxer”, but she was the reigning 48kg Provincial Champion.  Kassandra and her opponent, Janaya Khan, were the only female bout of the night, which made their fight even more special. Kassandra wanted to steal the show and impress – and impress she did!  The boxers pushed each other to their limit, as they both landed combinations and implemented their strategies to a tee.  The crowd roared in excitement, as they knew they were witnessing something incredibly special.  Their bout would lay the benchmark for every female bout that would occur at FTEC, for years to come.
We are honoured to be welcoming Kassandra back into the Fight To End Cancer, this time as our Main Event at the Friday Night ‘Fights To End Cancer’.  She will be fighting one of Canada’s top and internationally ranked boxers, Sara Hagighat-Joo.
Boxing was never a sport that crossed her mind growing up, although she always wanted to do everything her twin brother, Josh did.  He started boxing at 14 years old and she remembers saying to him “BOXING! Why boxing?”  Her mom was never keen on letting Josh box, but eventually she gave in and let him try it out.  Josh had his first amateur bout about a year later and it wasn’t until then that Kassandra decided to give it a try.  She was 15 years old when she first started and it was strictly for fitness and to build confidence, or at least that’s what she told her mom, as she knew she never wanted her to compete.

“A few months into boxing, I had my first sparring session which lead to my first fight in Kansas City.  I’m still competing 12 years later… Sorry mom.

Boxing has taken up a large portion of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  I am very thankful for finding myself in the sport of boxing and for all the wonderful friends I have made throughout the journey. “

~Kassandra O’Reilly, Friday Night ‘Fights To End Cancer’ Fighter

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Kassandra’s Notable Achievements