Here’s What That Big Fight In Harrington Was All About

Well now here's something that you don't see every day.

A boxing event that drew almost 500 spectators recently took place in one of the more beautiful areas of Downeast Maine. Was it an illegal fight put together for gambling purposes and without the knowledge of authorities or the gaming commission?

No, it was all for a really good cause.

The event was organized by a variety of folks, but was the brainchild of brothers Steve and Scott Strout, along with Scott's fiancé Tara Skeate, and it was put together to raise money for the senior class of Narraguagus High School.

Get our free mobile app

"We had always thought in previous years that boxing event would raise slot of money", Steve Strout tells us.

So how did an idea for a boxing event on the shore of the Harrington River originate?

Mr. Strout tells us, "Back about 25 years ago, Washington Academy would hold amateur boxing in the spring, and would pack the gymnasium. But as time went on, liability insurance for these events forced the schools to stop. As a high school senior in 1995, I volunteered to box, with our class to receive proceeds from one night. We made enough money for our building trades class to fly to Florida and build houses for habitat for humanity in Florida. So long story short, this community hasn’t had an event like this since the late ’90s, and were way overdue."

So a boxing ring was put together and everyone brought their lawn chairs for an event that hadn't happened Downeast in years.  Most of the boxers were young, and some took it seriously while others did not, like the two young girls that wore inflatable bodysuits and the two boys that got into the ring to box blindfolded.

Then came the main event, where 44-year-old Steve Strout took on his 20-year-old son. "We went easy, then got a bit more aggressive the last seconds of the last round", Mr. Strout told us.

Admission was by donation only, and between that and the food and the raffle tickets that were sold almost $7,000 was collected for the senior class of Narraguagus High School. 

Man, talk about a job well done!  Rocky Balboa would be proud.

"I’m sure it’ll be an annual event", Steve Strout said via Facebook Messenger.  "We live in an awesome community, and I had so much participation."