Southern Alberta boxing legend Curtis Hatch to join hall of fame

By Lethbridge Herald on May 2, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A former southern Alberta boxer, who compiled 112 wins and was never knocked out, will be inducted posthumously into the 2025 class of the Lethbridge Sport Hall of Fame next Friday.

Curtis Hatch grew up in Raymond, but his career took him far beyond southern Alberta-to more than a dozen countries, in fact.

In more than 200 bouts, he piled up 13 provincial championship titles, seven Golden Glove crowns, two Alberta Diamond Belt titles and two Canadian championships. He also competed internationally with the national team earning medals in Finland, Italy, Ireland France, East Germany, Spain, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Kenya, Nigeria and Morrocco.

Maryse Hatch Howard, Hatch’s wife, describes her husband as someone who persevered and focused on mind over matter.

“He broke his hand once and still kept fighting,” says Hatch Howard. “He was super strong, he had character, he had heart and this brings his legacy to a permanent place in history.”

Above all, Hatch showed discipline and respect in all aspects of his life. After each match Hatch would tap his gloves twice and then point his gloves four times. When Hatch Howard asked him what he was doing, he told her he was thanking each of the judges after the match for taking time out to come watch the fight and for judging it fair.

In his personal life, Hatch owned his own construction business where his character shone through with how he treated those around him. Hatch Howard recalls one time where Hatch was accidentally hit on the head with a sledgehammer, he went to the hospital to get stitches and went back to work.

Hatch Howard says her husband taught her and their children many valuable lessons that they’ll take with them through their life.

“He taught us success comes from discipline, from resilience and from respecting other people.”

Hatch died in 2010, but his wife says his legacy is woven through her and their children, who all own their own businesses in some capacity.

“He taught us how to stand tall, how to be strong in adversity and we’ve had plenty of that, but we’ve stuck together through all of it. He showed us how to work hard (and) probably the most important thing, I think, is to be independent thinkers.”

Hatch Howard, along with three out of the four children, will be attending the ceremony and they are all deeply honoured to celebrate Hatch’s hard work and dedication .

“Everyone is just thrilled,” says Hatch Howard. “We’re excited because Curtis worked so hard in and out of the ring.”

Hatch has nine grandchildren who never got to meet him, but his legacy will live on and will have a permanent spot they can see his achievements.

“(The hall of fame nod) helps them recognize (and) helps them connect with who he was, which I’m really excited about,” says Hatch Howard.

The Lethbridge Sport Hall of Fame inductee banquet will take place next Friday at the Lethbridge and District Agri-Food Hub. Tickets can be purchased on the Lethbridge Sport Hall of Fame website.