Amateur boxing back in Tauranga

DEDICATED: Tauranga boxing trainer Chris Walker, right, is bringing back amateur boxing nights. PHOTO: FILE

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.

The resurgence of amateur boxing at TGA Box Health and Fitness has seen nine Western Bay boxers registered with Boxing New Zealand in 2017with six in action tonight.

Brady Lesa has 19 fights behind him and has a tough opponent in Saili Fiso from Hawke's Bay in a Middleweight Open Class bout. Nathaniel Crawford, who won the North Island Golden Gloves title last year, also has a tough fight scheduled with Emile Richardson from the Rotorua Central Gym.

The third Tauranga Middleweight fighter in action is Rewiti Davies who will box Andy Kupa-Caudwell from Hastings. Michel Crosa, 17, will make his ring debut against Joseph Pui from Hasting Giants gym.

Two Tauranga female fighters have tough fights on their hands. Linda Thompson will enter the ring for the first time to square off with King Country's Stephanie Troffer with Hannah Walker, 15, who has four bouts under her belt, up against Te Mania Shelford from Hamilton.

Junior and senior boxers from Tauranga, New Plymouth, Hastings, King Country, Gisborne, Hamilton and Rotorua are competing with 13 bouts scheduled to begin at 5.30pm.

Fight card
Middleweight: Brady Lesa (Tauranga) v Saili Fiso (Hastings)
Middleweight: Rewiti Davies (Tauranga) v Andy Kupa-Caudwell (Hastings)
Middleweight: Nathaniel Crawford (Tauranga) v Emile Richardson (Rotorua)
Lightweight: Michel Crosa (Tauranga) v Joseph Pui (New Plymouth)
Women's Welterweight: Linda Thompson (Tauranga) v Stephanie Troffer (King Country)
Women's Junior Featherweight: Hannah Walker (Tauranga) v Te Mania Shelford (Ham)