By Hollie Harris
For two Noosa’s boxing clubs, Impact Boxing Academy Cooroy and Noosa Box Office, there has been plenty activity.
The Impact amateur team, last weekend had two novice fighters taking part in a tournament at Beau Desert and a third fighting in Sydney.
At Beau Desert, in only his second fight, Impact’s 10-year-old Cohen Robinson, won a points decision against an opponent from a club in Roma.
“The lad started well forcing his opponent to take a standing eight count in the first round. However his opponent came back stronger than ever, with both the second and third rounds being really tough going. It could have been anyone’s fight; however Cohen came home really strong with good combinations which saw him get the decision,” Coach Mark Evans said.
In the second fight, Cohen’s 11-year-old sister Paige was having her first bout.
With a great display of straight punching, her opponent, very early in the first round, took a standing eight count and with Paige’s aggressive follow up and well directed punches the referee stepped in and stopped the event. “A first round TKO in her very first fight. The way she picked her shots for a novice was really outstanding. For these fighters it was a great performance; both showed plenty of promise,” Evans said.
In the Sydney bout which took place on Friday night at Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs PCYC Leagues club, veteran Luke Martin, also of the Impact Academy, fought local lad Tameur Tafari.
Fighting in the 56kg division, this was described by Evans as an absolute war. The local lad wanted to win in front of his home crowd but with Luke showing plenty of aggression and good defense he received a split decision.
Martin’s goal is to be picked to represent Australia at the World Amateur Championships in Russia later this year.
At present Impact fighters Ella Boot and Chloe Halley, are touring the UK as part of Boxing Australia’s Future Team (female).
Also from 19-25 July, Ben Cameron-Hands and Ella Boot will fight in an international tournament in the Bahamas – the Youth Commonwealth Games.
For Israel Kani NBO club, professionals Casey Caswell and Jackson King are training for fights, with Casey due to fight at Byron Bay on 15 July and Jackson in Melbourne on 21 July.
Meanwhile top amateur Ben Slavin has returned to training following knee surgery.
Several new members have joined the amateur ranks and are also preparing for their first fights.
Boxing is definitely on the way up.
