That boxing has come to Elizabeth City is not big a news. That big-time boxing is coming to Elizabeth City is.

On Saturday and Sunday, Elizabeth city will play host to some of the best amateur boxers the state has to offer when PAL and the Elizabeth City Boxing Club put on the North Carolina USA Boxing Senior Championships at the old Elizabeth City Middle School gym.

Along with the top senior amateurs, a novice class — fighters who have less than 10 amateur bouts — will be competing. Among those is Quinton Roach, a name many area sports fans should recognize.

Follow us on Facebook

Roach played football and basketball at Northeastern, graduating in 2011. He originally went to North Carolina Wesleyan to play football, but that did not work out. He transferred to Elizabeth City State where he is finishing up his freshman year as a criminal justice major.

While he considered playing football at ECSU, he discovered boxing and was hooked.

“I always wanted to do something like this, but I never really had time with football and basketball,” said Roach, who has been training since August. “I used to box around in the streets and play around, but I always wanted to do this seriously.”

Roach, who will be fighting as a welterweight (152 pounds), is looking forward to his first competition.

“It’s the step on the ladder,” Roach said. “There are some advanced people in our gym that have helped me get my confidence up. I really believe I am going to win as long as I pace myself, stay disciplined and get off first and not wait to be attacked.”

Willie Raynard James, coach of the Elizabeth City Boxing Club, thinks Roach could develop into a good fighter given some time.

“I have a lot of confidence in him. He’s just grasping it right now,” James said. “Once he gets it, he’s going to be Elizabeth City’s draw.”

James says that many newcomers come into the gym eager to get in the ring. He explains that it is a process to work your way up to that, but for those that are too anxious, he throws them in the ring and it is an eye-opener. Roach learned first hand how different it was.

“The first time I got hit, well, it took a lot to keep coming back,” said Roach, who is in the gym four days a week. “You have to do what you want to do. No one is in here to be a champion the first day.”

Roach is not sure where boxing will take him, but he is open to going where ever that is.

“I think I am going to stick with boxing,” Roach said. “If I keep up the work and keep competing, I can take it a long way.”

Ten different weight classes will compete this weekend with the semifinals on Saturday and finals on Sunday. The senior calss has the added incentive of a potential Olympic team berth. Senior winners will move on to the national championships in late February in Colorado Springs, Colo., and winners there will advance on to the final international Olympic qualifier in Brazil in May.

All that adds up to a pretty big deal for the city and an event that could be back year after year, perhaps leading to more.

“With us being here and establishing the very first United States amateur boxing facility in Elizabeth City, we’re on the map,” James said. “We’re bringing amateur boxing here to Elizabeth City with the future hopes of bring professional boxing here to town. When sponsors and business see what we’re involved in and can back us, we can bring it in. The opportunity is there for us now.”

Saturday’s card begins at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday’s championships will commence at 3 p.m.