By Ron Lane
The phone call came in early 2016, and when Tyler Blizzard of Tasmania picked up the phone he was about to retire from the world of amateur boxing. He was getting nowhere he had had enough. But on the other end of the phone, Cooroy amateur boxing coach Mark Evans had other ideas.
“No way, mate, you have got too much talent; pack up your bags and come and live with me and my family.” Now, some 18 months later, he is in Hamburg as a member of the nine-man Elite Australian Amateur Boxing Team, chosen to represent his country in the biggest tournament in the world; the Elite Men’s Amateur World Boxing Championships.
Standing in his corner will be his personal coach Mark Evans. Not only is he Tyler’s coach, but he is also there in his official capacity as the assistant coach of the Australian team; a great achievement for our local sporting community. For this tournament, there will be 289 athletes representing 85 countries and there can be no doubt; our Tyler boxing in the 52kg limit, will be up against the best in the world.
Educated at St Patricks College in Launceston, Tasmania, Tyler has an impressive record of winning four Australian Titles and two National Golden Gloves. But, perhaps his biggest achievement was when he boxed as a member of the Qld team in Dungarvan, Waterford Ireland, in the International Celtic Cup Championship. Not only did Qld win the tournament but Tyler along with fellow team member Taylah Robinson, also of the Impact Boxing Academy Cooroy, won a coveted Celtic Championship Belt as the only undefeated fighters in their division.
The championships start on Friday and we wish not only Tyler Blizzard but our whole Australian boxing squad all the very best.
While this is going on, our other Impact Boxing Academy champion, Ella Boot, gold medal winner at the recent Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas, is in the AIS Canberra, training with the Elite Girls team who are preparing for the Commonwealth Games. For Ella who is still a Youth, this is a great six-day training camp; a major part of her preparation for the Youth World Titles to be held in India in November. Definitely a great week of achievement for the Cooroy Impact Amateur Boxing Club! Well done to all concerned.
