By RON LANE
LAST weekend, the Noosa Box Office Amateur Boxing Club and Fitness Centre played host to one of the best amateur boxing seminars ever to be held on the Sunshine Coast.
Under the supervision of Mark Evans, Queensland Development coach for Boxing Australia and totally supported and assisted by Israel Kani and his team at Noosa Box Office (NBO), the seminar was seen by all involved as a great success.
With 12 coaches and 75 athletes in attendance and the first class facilities of the Noosa Box Office made available, everything was indeed very positive. With the complete endorsement of the governing body Australian Amateur Boxing Association, this type of training camps is without a doubt a major step in getting our amateur boxers on the road to the ultimate goal, the Olympic Games.
Evans, who also runs a club of his own at Cooroy called Impact said, “As a result of the development program, we now hold four camps state-wide per year. At home in Cooroy, I have some 14 registered fighters and anything from 20 to 30 other members working on their fitness so that keeps me fairly busy.” Apart from his duties as Development coach, he also holds the official position of Queensland coach.
When asked about local prospects, he pointed to a young lad working out on the mats.
“At present in Cooroy, we have that young kid Sam Cameron-Hands boxing in the 57 kilo division. In September, he is one of seven off to Russia to fight for Australia in the World Junior Championships. Just think of that; a 15-year-old kid from Cooroy off to Russia to fight for his country. How good is that?” he asked with a smile.
But it’s not just the boys that are making their mark in the tough business of amateur boxing. Sitting on a stool close by was a pretty 16-year-old girl named Taylor Robinson who had recently returned from a trip to the Philippines where she attended a three-week High Performance Camp, Women’s Junior Division. At the completion of the camp, which was attended by mainly Asian countries, the girls got to take part in a local tournament.
This all came about because Boxing Australia was able to provide $10,000 funding to send a team of five girls for the three-week camp. Those who participated deemed the camp a great experience.
The effort that some made to attend the seminar was emphasized by two coaches in particular; Chris Wilcox from the K.O.Boxing Gym in Townsville and Chris Bell from Bells Gym in Moranbah. For Wilcox, the long weekend is usually fishing and camping with the family, but this year it was a flight from Townsville with his son to attend. For Bell, it involved an 11-hour drive from his little mining town of Moranbah. However, both agree it was well worth the effort.
A major factor in Wilcox being able to attend was the sponsorship they received from Yellowblock Road, Secure Fencing and Wilcox Excavation. “Without this support, we just couldn’t attend, so many thanks to all,” he said.
Another couple who made the big effort was a mother and son team – Tammy Alderton and her 13-year-old son Chase. They drove all the way from Dalby. “Chase had been playing rugby league, but we were not really happy with that, so he switched to boxing and we are much happier. This sport is just one on one. No gang tackles.”
“Mums right; I am training for my first fight later this year and after training for nearly two years, I am really looking forward to it.”
As he stood to walk away, this 13-year-old extended his hand and said, “Thanks for talking to us. All the best.” A dedicated and well-mannered young man. Good luck to mother and son.
The success of the weekend was best summed up by Sunshine Coast boxing legend and coach Darren Obah when he said, “This is absolutely awesome. It is just what we need to help amateur boxing on the coast and all over.”
Obahs career gives weight to his opinion. Not only did he hold Australian amateur titles, and represent his country in both Commonwealth and Olympic Games, but as a professional he fought a main event at the home of professional boxing Madison Square Garden New York. And from Israel Kani who hosted and assisted, “It is a pleasure to be the host and well done to all concerned. A major success.”
