Winnipeg boxer with troubled past returns to ring

A Winnipeg boxer with a troubled past is gearing up for what he calls the fight of his life in two weeks.

Junior Moar’s boxing career began early. He was the youngest boxer on the Canadian National Team and began claiming national and international titles almost instantly.

But the success lead to trouble for Moar.

“It kind of quickly went to my head, and I got involved with the wrong crowd,” said Moar. “Before I knew it, I ended up in Stony Mountain penitentiary.”

Moar became a prominent member of a Hells Angel puppet club and was involved in a drive by shooting.

“I was charged with attempted murder,” he said. Moar was eventually found guilty of discharging a fire arm and spent four years behind bars.

When he got out, he left for Vancouver in an attempt to leave gang life behind.

“You always hear stories of individuals who could’ve, would’ve, should’ve been something, but because of drugs or alcohol or jail, they didn’t become anything. I never wanted to be one of those stories,” he said.

Now, Moar has fought his way back into the ring, and is set to defend his light heavyweight belt Oct. 12 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre vs. Mike "Flash" Walchuk.

Kent Brown works with Winnipeg Elite Boxing MMA, an organization that welcomes inner city kids in for training.

“It’s the workout. It’s the discipline. It’s the dedication,” said Brown. “They may be disadvantaged, they may not have all the other stuff, but this is going to help them and teach them, ‘I can get over that obstacle. I can reach that goal.’”

Moar agrees.

“It’s never too late to turn your life around,” he said.