By RON LANE
WITH some 19 amateur boxing clubs from all over Queensland converging on Noosa District State High School Cooroy on Saturday night, it was bound to be a great success.
The occasion was the young guns Amateur Boxing Tournament sponsored by the Impact Boxing Academy of Cooroy.
With a full program of 31 fights, ranging in divisions from 34 kg to 91, the 420 supporters in attendance certainly witnessed a great night of boxing. However, the most pleasing aspect of the evening was the high standard of the bouts and for this the coaches can take a big bow.
President of Boxing Queensland Incorporated Ann Tindall said, “There is a lot of talent here tonight. In our sport, it’s hard to keep the young in the gyms for constant training for there is so much to offer in outside activities. Our success overseas in the World Titles has, over the years, been getting better, so tournaments like this are very important.”
Tindall, who is in her second term as president, started officiating as a judge and referee in 1992. With this amount of experience, it is easy to understand why this lady commands such respect in what has always been a male-dominated sport.
There were several great fights during the evening, but the bout between Ben Cameron-Hands of Impact Boxing Academy and Michael Johnson of the Matrix club was without a doubt one of the highlights. Weighing in at 48kg these 13-year-old contestants gave a display of boxing skills well beyond their years.
In round one, moving in with good combinations of short snappy punching, Johnson started to dictate terms. However, Cameron-Hands with great footwork and his repeated switching from orthodox stance to southpaw evened things up. Round two saw it as anyone’s fight until a short snappy right hand from Johnson put his opponent down for the compulsory eight count. This plus a compulsory eight standing count and it was Johnson’s round.
Round three, with the crowd on its feet, again saw Johnson moving forward, but Cameron-Hands continued to show great footwork and counter punching. However, Johnson’s aggressive style and the second round knockdown, from which his opponent never fully recovered, saw him get the nod. It was in the opinion of many ringsiders, that it was anyone’s fight.
With so many young women now turning to the sport, Indianah Hiebluem from the Sunshine Coast and Chantelle Hissey from Deception Bay fought a bout that left no doubt as to the ability and determination of our young women. After a close fight, Hiebluem got the decision. This and several other bouts contested by girls, clearly suggest that girls boxing is definitely to be taken seriously.
To promoter and coach Mark Evans of Impact Boxing Academy and his workforce, a great event for the future of local amateur boxing.
