Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Van Horlick will be bull's eye into ring at Toughman

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Friday, July 14, 2000

Van Horlick will be bull's eye into ring at Toughman
With Bumstead in corner, IceRay is the most well-known of entrants in this weekend's brawling contest
By Matt Young
Caller-Times

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Under the watchful eyes of professional fighter Butterbean (center), Corpus Christi IceRay Quentin Van Horlick (right) works out with teammate Geoff Bumstead in preparation for the Toughman Contest.

At 5-foot-9, 172 pounds, Quinten Van Horlick will be one of the smallest competitors in today's Toughman Contestl He might well, however, have the biggest bull's eye on his chest.
   Traditionally, the Toughman Contest is made up of everyday people from the area. While Van Horlick is certainly not a celebrity, his status as a hockey player for the Corpus Christi IceRays does make him the most well-known Toughman participant. That name value could give some extra incentive for opponents looking to knock out an IceRay.
   "I'm sure there's quite a few guys out there that would like to be able to tell all their friends they beat up a hockey player," Van Horlick said. "If that's their motivation when they get in the ring with me, that's fine. They should probably look out for my right hand, though."
   The Toughman Contest has the same basic rules as boxing, except every match consists of three one-minute rounds. The field, which included 40 fighters as of Thursday afternoon, will be broken into a heavyweight (186 to 400 pounds) and a light heavyweight (170 to 185 pounds) division. There will also be a women's division.

The Toughman Contest
WHEN: 8 p.m. today and Saturday
WHERE: Memorial Coliseum
TICKETS: $13.50 general admission, $19 reserved seats, or $25 ringside.
MORE INFO: (800) 462-7979 or (800) 998-6844.

   Van Horlick has earned a reputation as a fighter on the ice. Geoff Bumstead, who was named the Western Professional Hockey League's "best fighter" in his first season with the IceRays, will be in Van Horlick's corner, and has helped his teammate train to convert his on-ice skills to the ring.
   "Part of my job on the ice is to fight every once in a while, so hopefully that will help me when I get in the ring," Van Horlick said. "Of course, boxing is a lot different, because I won't be able to hold on to the other guy's jersey or anything."
   Van Horlick is expected to have a large contingent of IceRay teammates cheering him on at the Coliseum, but every competitor is counting on a bit of hometown advantage. One of the Toughman Contest's rules is that every competitor must live within 75 miles of the show.
   "The great thing about Toughman is the guys that are fighting are guys that everyone in that city knows," said Butterbean, Toughman's most notable alumnus. "You go watch and you might see the mailman fighting or the big guy who works at the grocery store, you never know. There will probably be someone you know out there fighting."
   Butterbean, who officially changed his name from Eric Esch, no longer fights in the Toughman Contest because of his pro boxing career, but he is in town to help promote the event.
   "I love Toughman, so I try to go to as many shows as possible," Butterbean said. "When I'm not training for my own career, I like to watch all these guys try to beat the heck out of each other."
   Corpus Christi's Juan Jose Diaz thinks he qualifies as one of the toughest. This will be Diaz's third year to compete in Toughman.
   Weighing 209 pounds, Diaz will fight in the heavyweight division, which means he may have to face opponents who weigh more than 300 pounds.
   "That's fine, bring them on," said Diaz, 25. "I've taken out plenty of big guys in my day."
   One of those big guys he may have to face is the 6-1, 300-pound David Sturgeon. Sturgeon, who lives in Taft, has a mouth as big as his body.
   "I plan on being the top guy there," said Sturgeon, who will be competing in his first Toughman Contest. "I'm a blunt person, and I just tell it like it is. If anyone can make it through all three rounds with me, I'll shake their hand because it would surprise me."
   Butterbean laughs off such hearty talk, which he says is pretty standard for every Toughman Contest.
   "That's why I love coming to the shows in Texas," Butterbean said. "Everyone here thinks they're the toughest."


Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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