Two-time world champion boxer Marvin Camel to share his vision

PABLO — Former world champion boxer Marvin Camel will be returning to the Flathead Reservation next week to share the story of his worldly accomplishments and how his success in the boxing ring opened the doors to the world for him.

Marvin Camel, a Salish tribal member, was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation and was a gifted athlete who excelled in sports as a youth and young man. His main sport was boxing.

Camel used his innate and learned pugilistic skills to propel himself to the pinnacle of the boxing world. He was a two-time world champion boxer who won the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Championships. He was and remains Montana's only world championship boxer. Camel was named by Sports Illustrated as one of Montana's top 50 athletes of the 20th century.

Marvin and younger brother Ken Camel will be hosting the "Share the Vision" event that focuses on Marvin's success in the ring and how it molded their worldview and spiritual outlook. They will discuss the positive effects of their experience in boxing. Ken also boxed as an amateur and professional, and was a sparring partner with Marvin from the beginning to the end of Marvin's boxing career.

"Our goal is to share how boxing provides something that is unexpected," Ken Camel said. "We both learned compassion, dedication, problem solving and perseverance through our involvement in boxing."

The event will be held in the Arlee-Charlo Theater on the Salish Kootenai College campus Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 5-8 p.m.

There will be a showing of the videos of Marvin's four championship boxing matches.

"The showing of these historic boxing matches to the community in which he was raised seems like a natural step in documenting his storied career," Ken Camel said. "The event is a must see for those that were a part of Marvin's memorable boxing career."

The event, Ken said was aimed at attracting the youth of the area and to get them interested in boxing as a positive outlet.

Ken Camel, main organizer of the event, said he wants to use the event as a springboard for developing a boxing program on the Flathead Reservation.

Ken said there have been numerous requests to conduct a showing of Marvin's championship fights over the years. Now those requests will be honored. Marvin will participate in the event by telling his story and meeting folks one-on-one and sign autographs.

For more information, contact Ken Camel at 381-4371.