Northern Utah cowboys to fight in ‘Cowboy Clash Boxing’ fundraiser
Briggs Madsen watches other riders compete as he prepares his horse at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. Madsen rode both saddle broncs and bulls. The horse was new to him, but he had been on the bull, Vegas Nights, several times before. "He's bucked me off 3 times. That's gonna change," said Madsen.
In this photo from May, 2016, Briggs Madsen waits for the arena to be emptied so he can ride in the saddle bronc competition. Madsen just began riding proncs again two weeks before the Morgan rodeo in May. He is one of a dozen local high school and college cowboys to be featured in an exhibition boxing match Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Golden Spike arena.
Briggs Madsen, right, prepares for his first rodeo in over eight months while his younger brother, Kade Madsen waits outside the trailer in Morgan on May 6, 2016. Briggs, a nationally ranked high school rodeo star, had his spine crushed in a rodeo accident in 2015. All of the Madsen children compete in rodeos and their parents were both competitive riders.
Briggs Madsen, right, chats with his brother, Kade Madsen, in between events during Briggs's first rodeo in ten months at the Morgan County Fairgrounds on Friday, May 6, 2016. Briggs is a nationally ranked bull and saddle bronc rider, but is learning to ride again after a horse shattered his spine during a rodeo in 2015. Kade, 11, is too young to compete in the rodeo but follows his brother around the chutes and helps him with the animals.
Briggs Madsen rides a saddle bronc at the Wasatch High School Rodeo in Heber City on Saturday, May 7, 2016. In his first weekend of rodeo since 2015's injury Madsen was bucked off on four out of four rides.
Briggs Madsen is greater by a crowd of well-wishers as he enters the arena for the first time in Morgan. Briggs's family and the rodeo community put on several fundraisers following his injury to support him emotionally and financially.
OGDEN — Rodeo and boxing fans can see those worlds collide at the first annual Cowboy Clash Boxing Smoker set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Golden Spike Arena, 1000 North 1200 West in Ogden.
The event, featuring 15 exhibition fights among local cowboys, is designed to raise money for local high school and college rodeo clubs and is modeled after a successful fundraiser now in its 39th year at the College of Southern Idaho.
“We’ve tried to model this one after that event,” said Ben German, event organizer. “They generate quite a bit of money. That’s what we are hoping to build this thing into.”
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $40 for ringside seats on the floor. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
German said the Weber State University rodeo team, the Spikers High School Rodeo Club and the Bear River High School Rodeo Club all have sold tickets to the event and will get part of the proceeds to help fund their programs.
The event will feature 15 fights, each with three, one-minute rounds, German said.
Included in the list of competitors is Briggs Madsen, of Bear River, who will represent the Bear River rodeo club. Madsen has come back into rodeo competition this year after suffering a broken back in a rodeo accident.
RELATED: Rodeo champ Briggs Madsen fights to recover after bronc accident
Braxton Nielson, Joe Kippen and Colton Bringard will represent the WSU Rodeo Club.
Bronc Marriott, Austin Glover, Rowdy Stone and Kyler Oliver will represent the Spikers Rodeo Club.
German said there will be other local cowboys and some cowgirls who will be fighting.
You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at jfrancis@standard.net or 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook.