One of the main drawcards for Bay boxing watchers will be 15-year-old Hadley McDougall, son of HBBA Head Coach Craig McDougall, who earlier this year won the cadet male 66kg title at the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Champs in Porirua in January.
McDougall, from Lindisfarne, hasn't competed since winning that NZ title in January, having taken up mountain biking and playing rugby through winter.
He has two tough and experienced boxers in his category for his return to the ring, in Connor Anderson from Dannevirke and Dayton Kawau from Taumarunui.
McDougall and Anderson have boxed three times previously, with a narrow margin of 2-1 in McDougall's favour.
Varcoe said Kawau was also a boxer to watch out for.
"Kawau brings a huge amount of experience in over 50 bouts to the ring so we will need to see who can adopt the best strategies once the all-important draw has been confirmed on Friday night."
The event is a pathway to representing at the next NZ Amateur Boxing Championships in Whanganui in just eight weeks from now – the previous event was delayed for Covid-related reasons.
Craig McDougall said he was excited about the prospect of getting five or six boxers qualified.
"We had three compete well with two NZ titles [Hadley and Jett Varcoe] and a runner-up from three boxers in 2020.
"The local coaches are doing a great job preparing them which makes it easy for us when we get them into training camps for their final preparation."
Varcoe said other highlights for locals included Renee Doole from Karamu High School, who would be having her first bout.
"We are very excited about this as she paves the way for so many local girls with her great attitude to training and performance.
"Alex Coull and his brother Elliot will be stepping up again as they too work towards the NZ Champs. Alex a previous Cadet Champion is in good form but will be trying to edge ahead in the series (currently 1-1 this year) with his very good Patutahi opponent, Khadyn Kahukiwa.
Other action will include local novice boxers from Flaxmere, Sanipoi Takita and Cruizer Robinson, Mercede Eunson & Miguel Correa from Napier plus Stacey Loye from Legacy Boxing & Elias Robinson from Hastings Giants.
Varcoe said there was a huge buzz around amateur boxing in New Zealand at the moment, buoyed by David Nyika winning a bronze in Tokyo, the country's fourth Olympic boxing medal.
The HBBA and Hastings Giants are moving to a purpose-built facility at Mitre 10 Park in the new year and Varcoe said the growth of boxing in the region was only expected to grow.
WHAT: The Hawkes Bay Amateur Boxing Championships
WHEN: 2pm Saturday and 12.30pm Sunday
WHERE: Hastings Giants Boxing Academy, 108 Eastbourne St East
