By Ron Lane
With the Commonwealth Games now behind us it gives an opportunity to look at the results of the Australian boxing squad. In the words of Mark Evans assistant coach for the Australian team, “For us the results were very good probably the most successful ever. We finished with a total of 3 gold 2 silver and 3 bronze and from a team of just 13; it has been a good performance.”
For Mark owner and head coach of the Impact Boxing Academy Cooroy, it was also something personal. One of the Impact boxing squad Taylah Robertson a member of the team finished with a bronze medal. In the fight for the silver she came up against England’s Lisa Whiteside presently rated number one in the world and was somewhat shattered when she lost in a split decision.
“To loose on a split decision to the worlds best gives Taylah a definite world rating ; and let’s be honest Taylah with only 19 fights and her first games was up against an opponent with 32 fights 2 Olympics and 2 Commonwealth Games to her credit: so Taylahs effort was one of courage.”
To have a local coach on the Australian panel and a local boxer with a bronze medal says a lot for our boxing. When asked why she got into the sport Taylah at 19, already an Australian title holder replied, ‘’I just wanted to get into a sport and boxing appealed to me.” Now this young lady with the looks of a model will start on a ten week training program with club-mate Ella Boot in preparation for the Womens World Championship Title trials. The championships will be held later this year in Delhi India.
Regarding the Games coach Evans was full of praise. “The boxing was of very high standard and the tournament well organized. When our team members were fighting we had a full house and the atmosphere was electric; our supporters really got involved”
Before heading off to the games Evans completed extensions to the existing Impact gym. This upgrader will enable the club to concentrate, amongst other things, on more high intensity cardio work thus keeping in step with all aspects of fitness for members of his team. We wish them well.
