By Ron Lane
IT’S that time of the year again when members of the amateur boxing fraternity will travel from as far away as New Zealand, South Australia and New South Wales and congregate in Noosa District.
Reason: They will be here to take part in the now annual Young Guns Boxing Tournament to be held in Cooroy.
The event will be staged on 5 November and will be held in the great hall of the Noosa District State High School.
Starting at 3pm, it will provide a program of boxing second to none. A major factor in its success is the ongoing support of the High School, a support which is now in its eight year.
Under the control and organisation of the Impact Boxing Academy Cooroy, this tournament was first run back in 2009; but the name Young Guns didn’t come into being until 2011.’
“We started using the name and it attracted attention so we have stuck with it,’’ said the owner and coach of the Impact Club Mark Evans.
A major factor in promoting the night has been the amazing success of the Impact Club fighters at both state and national level.
Add to this the success at the recent international tournament – the Celtic Cup which is held in Ireland – saw two Impact members, Taylah Robinson and Tyler Blizzard, come home with not only gold medals, but also the coveted Celtic Championship Belts and you have the perfect promotion.
With fighters such as these, plus some others of whom are now also Australian Golden Glove Champions from our local Impact and Noosa Box Office Gyms, you are assured of a great night of boxing.
With the Commonwealth Games just a short time away, all fighters are out to win and impress the national selectors.
At present, Israel Kani intends to have a team of six from the Noosa Box Office and Evans from Impact a team of nine to fight on the program.
Following his success in Ireland, Tyler Blizzard (and Coach Mark) was invited home to fight in the Silver Dome Arena Launceston Tasmania, on the under card of the world championship title fight featuring Australian Danial Gael.
Blizzard, who was matched to fight NSW best Brad Collins, sent the local supporters’ bananas when he won a unanimous points decision.
“The reception that our young Tyler got in Launceston was remarkable,’’ said Mark. And he added with a laugh, “It was crazy; he was treated like a rock star.”
If first fights can be used as a gauge, remember the name Lockie Proctor from the Impact Club.
At a recent tournament in Caboolture, this young fighter – boxing with a style beyond his years – caused a sensation when he stopped his opponent in the second round. He’s someone to watch.
