Tauranga boxing coach Chris Walker is turning his attention back to amateur boxing, with his club's first amateur tournament in five years to be held at TGA Box Health and Fitness tonight.
Walker fashioned an outstanding coaching record in the amateur ranks before focusing on the professional journeys of Gunnar Jackson, Anthony Taylor and Jonathan Taylor in recent years.
Walker has coached five boxers to eight individual Boxing New Zealand national titles.
His first success came with his older brother Robbie, who won two national crowns and represented New Zealand at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Kelly Woolrich also won two New Zealand titles from the Tauranga Boxing Club Gym and then added an Oceania crown in her time in the Walker team.
Anthony Taylor and Dave Aloua both won national titles and boxed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Katie Flyger won the 2010 Women's Welterweight championship while Justin Potter earned an Oceania gold medal while in the Walker stable.