Cornwall has been known to be home to some great athletes. Names like Newsy Lalonde, Cy Denneny, Moe Racine, Lori Dupuis and Melanie Banville have etched their names in their respective sports and they came from Cornwall. Boxer Tony Luis is on the cusp on joining Cornwall's elite list of athletes

PHOTO CREDIT - David Murphy, OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Jun. 22, 2011 - Cornwall has been known to be home to some great athletes. Names like Newsy Lalonde, Cy Denneny, Moe Racine, Lori Dupuis and Melanie Banville have etched their names in their respective sports and they came from Cornwall. Add to those names like Scott Pearson, Chad Kilger and Jesse Winchester as athletes who reached as high as they could in their respective sports. These are but a small sampling of top end athletes from Cornwall.

In this humble man’s opinion, Tony Luis is on the cusp on joining that elite list of athletes. I’ve witnessed three of Tony’s fights en route to a 12-0 record as a professional (he still holds the Quebec Lightweight Championship). Add in that other top contenders or so called champions are, for all intents and purpose ducking him and you just know he’s on his way to the top of a sometimes quirky sport like boxing.

Russ Anber is arguably the most recognized name in Canadian boxing (thanks to TSN). Russ is Tony’s corner man on fight night. Tony’s father Jorge is his trainer. Both are his most ardent supporters while at the same time his biggest critics. They’re not afraid to let young Luis know what he’s not doing right in any particular match.

No such words were needed last weekend in Montreal as Tony dismantled his Argentian opponent. Tony came out punching and never let up as he picked apart Miguel Lombardo for three and a half rounds before the opponent’s corner threw in the towel.

For the record, that loss put Lombardo’s record at 15-11-1. Prior to this latest conquest, Tony fought Aldo Valtierra whose record was 25-13 after Luis pummeled him.

It’s simply a matter of time before Tony Luis makes the jump to that next level and heads to the stratosphere of boxing.

And the best thing about him is not his vaunted left hook, it’s the fact he will never forget where he came from.