MONTANA - The landscape of local sports has changed much over the last 25 years. Case in point, professional boxing. During the late 1970’s and early 1980's the sport flourished across Montana. Former WBC and WBF heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas fought at Metrapark back in 1979.

But the man that drew the most attention came from the Salish Kootnai nation on the Flathead Indian Reservation. His name was Marvin Camel. He hold’s the distinction of being the first person recognized as Cruiserweight Boxing Champion of the World by two different professional sanctioning bodies, the WBC and the IBF. To this day, that record still remains intact.

Twenty-five years ago, Billings hosted it's first championship boxing match. It happened May 21st, 1983 between USBA champion Marvin Camel against unbeaten Rocky Sekorski. The fight was held at Metrapark and quickly turned into a one sided affair.

Camel outclassed and out-punched the overmatched Sekorski, the bout stopped on a KO in the 9th round. Already a world champion having won the WBC title in 1980, the fighter from Ronan becoming one of the more compelling sports figures in Montana.

Camel's next fight was for the inaugural IBF title against Roddy MacDonald in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Camel won on a TKO in the 5th round. Ten months later, Camel made his first defense of that belt back in Billings against unbeaten Lee Roy Murphy.

The scheduled 15-rounder turned out to be a war of attrition. Cut over the eye in round 3, Camel pressed on piling up points and building a large lead. By the end of the 14th round Camel had sustained cuts over both eyes. It was then the ring doctor stepped in and stopped the fight, giving Murphy a controversial win and that decision was met by catcalls and cups being thrown into the ring from the crowd at Metrapark.

Camel continued on until retiring in 1990 with a professional record of 45-13-and 4. His accomplishments in the ring certainly rank him among Montana’s all time greatest sports figures.