Canadian boxing champ retains title while fighting for charity

All proceeds from title bout to benefit Have a Heart Cayman Islands

HAMILTON, ONTARIO (June 22, 2017) – Canadian boxing champ and Hamilton, Ontario hometown hero Steven “The Piranha” Wilcox successfully defended his belt while fighting for a cause during his recent title bout in Canada.

Wilcox, who is now 17-2-1, retained his World Boxing Association-North American BoxingAssociation (WBA-NABA) Super Lightweight title by defeating Oscar Arjona from Mexico (13-6-0) in a unanimous decision.

A Sports Ambassador for Health City Cayman Islands, Wilcox is donating a portion of his fight purse to the Have a Heart Cayman Islands charity.

The professional boxing match was presented by Three Lions Promotions at the Hamilton Convention Centre on Saturday, June 3 and Three Lions’ Dan Otter has also confirmed that the company will be donating all of the proceeds from the event to Have a Heart Cayman Islands.

Have a Heart Cayman Islands partners with local and international organizations to subsidize and provide pediatric heart surgery. “With Steven’s generous commitment and continual efforts, he is helping to provide lifesaving heart surgery to children around the world,” said Nicola Banks, Director of Health City Cayman Islands’ Canada Office.

Wilcox won all 10 rounds of the title match against a tough opponent in Arjona. The fight was a rematch between the two, following Wilcox’s loss in a controversial split decision in Mexico in December 2016.

During the June 3 rematch, Wilcox dislocated his thumb in the seventh round after knocking Arjona down to the canvas two times. Wilcox used only his left jabbing hand for the remainder of the seventh round and the additional three rounds, putting one hand behind his back at one point in the eighth round to illustrate that he was fighting one-handed.

The other main event of the evening featured Hamilton champion, current NCC and WBACanadian Super Welterweight title holder Kevin Higson (11-1-0), who defeated Martin Islas (11-3-0) of Mexico City, in a split decision.

Prior to his June 3 victory, Wilcox most recently defeated Argentina’s Jorge Luis Rodriguez in a March 18 match, resulting in a unanimous decision after an eight-round super lightweight contest held at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario.

Wilcox was chosen to represent Health City Cayman Islands following a visit he made to Grand Cayman in January this year to participate in the Island Rumble boxing showcase, hosted by reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

While in the Cayman Islands, Wilcox toured the tertiary care facility and met with children who were receiving cardiac surgery with the support of Have a Heart Cayman Islands.

Wilcox also took the opportunity to learn more about the hospital’s expertise in sports medicine, and met with Dr. Niranjan Nagaraja, Senior Orthopedic Surgeon at Health City Cayman Islands.

Health City Cayman Islands’ Canadian office, which is based in Wilcox’s hometown of Hamilton, works with its board of Canadian Board of Advisors to facilitate Canadian patients receiving healthcare services at Health City.

About Have a Heart Cayman Islands

Have a Heart Cayman Islands is committed to saving the lives of children around the world, regardless of social or socioeconomic status, race, gender or religion. The organization facilitates lifesaving cardiac procedures for impoverished children in a state-of-the art, world-class hospital in the Cayman Islands. Have a Heart Cayman Islands is a registered nonprofit organization. Every cent raised by Have a Heart Cayman Islands goes directly to the delivery of lifesaving healthcare for children. No funds are diverted to administration or overhead.

For further information, visit www.haveaheartcayman.com.

About Health City Cayman Islands

Health City Cayman Islands, the vision of renowned heart surgeon and humanitarian Dr. Devi Shetty, is supported by two major health-care organizations, Narayana Health and the U.S.-based Ascension, which is America’s largest faith-based and nonprofit health system, providing the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Health City, only the second hospital in the Caribbean to receive the Joint Commission International’s “hospital accreditation”, provides compassionate, high-quality, affordable health-care services in a world-class, comfortable, patient-centered environment. Offering health care to local, regional and international patients, Health City Cayman Islands delivers excellence in adult and pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery, cardiac electrophysiology, medical oncology, orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatric endocrinology, gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery, neurology, interventional neurology and neuro-diagnostics, neurosurgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, gynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, dental, sleep lab and pulmonology services.

For further information, visit  www.healthcitycaymanislands.com.

Captions:

Photo: Wilcox_Fighting_HCCI

Caption: Steven Wilcox (black trunks) in action against Oscar Arjona (red trunks.)

Photo: Wilcox_Shirt_HCCI

Caption: Steven Wilcox with well-wishers after winning his title bout to retain his belt.

Photo: Wilcox_Win_HCCI

Caption: Steven Wilcox being declared the victor in his match against Oscar Arjona.