It was anybody’s fight. The first round definitely went to Tobyn “Mohawka” Jordan, the second round to Case “Crash” Cottonware. The third round? 

It was anybody’s guess until Jordan’s punch connected as the bell rang and down went Cottonware in the third. 

But Jace “The Soul Snatcher” Williams vs. Jaxon “Mr. Potato Head” Brown and Finnley “Kidchamp” Heine vs. Dustin “The Mighty Flying Eagle” Ford were the fights of the night, American Legion Post 26 Commander Tim Heine and club coordinator David Holland agreed. 

“​​Two of our youngest boys, you know, my son (Finnley) and the other young man that he was going up against, they're the two youngest in the group,” Tim Heine said. “And they came out swinging and there was no holding back.”

American Legion Post 26’s Big Horn Boxing Club held its first fight night March 22 at Powell Middle School for the younger age group. The club’s “Lil Tykes” have been training hard for the past two months and it was their chance to show off their skills — with blow up gloves and ample protection.

There were 22 fighters, two of whom fought twice, and roughly 150 audience members, Holland said. 

The 12 exhibition matches were a product of community collaboration. Jason Potter of Potter Self Defense Academy in Cody was the night’s referee. Jess Campbell of Freedom Fitness, School Resource Officer Matt Koritnik and middle school teacher Juston Carter served as the night's judges. Nick Fulton and Powell Wrestlers, Park County School District 1 (including Chanler Buck and Mary Jo Lewis), Smooth Ease, the American Legion and various community volunteers all assisted in different ways to make the night a success.

At the end of the night the American Legion Auxiliary ordered medals for all of the fighters with positive messages.

“They get a certificate from the club itself, and then seeing them get a medal from somebody else kind of made their eyes light up too. Like my son's, his is hanging on his wall with his wrestling medals right now. He’s all excited about it,” Heine said.

The auxiliary has been providing snacks after practice, he said, and wanted to continue helping out.

“Everybody there had a good time, even the high school kids that are in the older youth program, they came out,” Holland said. “We had adults in the adult program come out, and they all had positive things to say.”

Now the “Lil Tykes” are on a break until May in order to preserve their fondness of the sport.

“Everyone's loving it, which is great, we want to keep that up,” Holland said. “But Powell Rec is starting up with their soccer and gymnastics and stuff like that. We'd like them to participate in other sports so they can keep that fire alive.”

While the little ones take a break, other aspects of the club push forward. This month the leadership program will get off the ground.

Athletes in the leadership program will mentor the “Lil Tykes” groups and also build their character and leadership skills with community projects, the organizers said. Members of the program will be selected based on an application process that includes an interview.

“Like I said, originally, when we put our heads together to get the boxing club going, it was number one, we want them to demonstrate good character,” Holland said.

In the coming months the boxing club will participate in a MURPH challenge (a fitness challenge honoring Navy Seal Lt. Michael Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor) on Memorial Day, which will be a fundraiser for both the club and the American Legion.