By Ron Lane
Last Saturday evening at the Noosa Leisure Centre, football players and fans from around the coast gathered for the eighth annual Contender of the Codes charity boxing tournament.
With players from Dolphins Rugby Union, Tigers AFL, Pirates Rugby League and the Lions Soccer Club stepping forward to box for their clubs, an entertaining evening was assured.
With the program under control of promoter Butch Smith and the fights refereed by local boxing celebrity Israel Kani, the evening went well.
What the contestants lacked in style they made up with plenty of enthusiasm.
Perhaps what was one of the best bouts of the evening was an exhibition bout between two ten-year-olds, Jackson Smith and Jackson Thomas.
Both boys – who after months of training at Isreal’s NBO club – are about to embark on a career as amateur boxers; despite their youth they showed plenty of promise. We wish them and Israel all the best in their careers.
Points for wins were allocated to each club and at the end of the fight card it was announced that the Dolphins Rugby Union club had come out on top, thus making them the recipients of the winner’s trophy, the Mick Hamilton Sporting Community Shield.
The Brad McLean Medal for the fighter of the night went to Dolphins Conrad Trotman. With a good left jab followed by plenty of good scoring short right hands his win was well deserved.
Presenting the awards, Mick Hamilton thanked all involved for their efforts in making it a successful evening; and in particular thanked the fans for their support.
Once again Butch and Israel gave us an entertaining fundraising evening.
