Turns out, a good teacher can turn a boxing ring into a classroom.

Josh Canty, a long-time teacher and principal with the Greater Essex County District School Board, began his coaching career in 1991 at the Border City Boxing Club.

A few years earlier, he won a Canadian title (1989) after which, Canty turned his attention to teaching the sport to others.

Over time, Canty has coached boxers to provincial, national, international and world championship titles. Notably, Canty coached Jeannine Garside, a five-time professional world champion and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2015). He coached Margaret Sidoroff (WECSHOF 2007 inductee) to three professional world championships, Sammy El Mais to a Commonwealth Games gold medal, Josh Cameron to a Canada Games gold medal, Andre Gorges to a North American Professional Welterweight title and Dave Robinson to a Native North American middleweight title.

Canty has coached 17 Ontario champions and ten Canadian champs.

Canty became president of Border City Boxing in 2000. He served as coach of the North American Native Boxing Team in 2003 and for the Iraqi National Team in 2007. He coached Canada’s team at World Championships in Russia (2006) and India (2007). In 2007, he produced national champions at all three levels of competition (cadet-C, junior, senior) and was recognized with a National Coaching Excellence Award from the sport’s certification body.

Canty has helped grow the sport by promoting over 30 boxing shows in the Windsor area and his club does community outreach to youth in its Ford City neighborhood.

Canty now steps inside the ropes of the builder’s category for the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.