The Rotovegas squad taking place in the annual Sons of boxing amateur tournament in Hamilton on Saturday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER.
The Rotovegas squad taking place in the annual Sons of boxing amateur tournament in Hamilton on Saturday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER.
Rotovegas head coach Aaron Warren is eyeing the future development of the sport at grassroots level when Rotorua's youth step into the ring this weekend.
Warren is sending an eight-strong amateur squad to take part in the annual Sons of Boxing amateur tournament in Hamilton tomorrow - the contest allowing boxers from all over New Zealand to compete with fighters in their weight divisions.
The squad is Te Ariki Iraia, 11, Nevis Van Schadewijk-Umata, 11, Fischer Wharerau, 12, Joseph O'Leary, 12, Carlos Allen, 13, Mitchell Robertson, 14, Naomi Iraia, 15, and Matua Parkinson, 16.
Warren, a former New Zealand national champion, picked current North Island champions in their divisions Matua (80kg junior) and Carlos (48kg cadet) as "star" boxers to watch after winning at the recent annual Golden Gloves tournament in Taupo.
"Matua has a very positive attitude and certainly has something special about him," he said. "He has a strong all-round game and is a great body puncher."
"Hopefully Naomi will inspire more local females to step into the ring.
"This is a great tournament to start off with because it's a strong confidence builder and introducing them to competitive fights."
The Rotorua youngsters are able to train and compete thanks to Rotovegas' youth amateur initiative - with money from the gym's corporate charity nights paying for all youngsters' training and equipment.
RotoVegas Boxing Gym owner and head coach Aaron Warren (front) has ambitious future plans for the development of boxing at a grass roots level. Photo/file.
Warren said it was "vital" to have such a scheme in place to help the grass roots level of the sport and help those less fortunate who may not have had the chance otherwise.
"Over the past couple of years I have seen a visible slump in numbers coming into the sport," he said.
"It's a crying shame and so that's why it's so important to have a plan and clear pathway in place to get youngsters putting on the gloves and getting into the ring.
"At the gym here we want to make the sport accessible and available. Some kids come from a less fortunate background and that's why we treat all our amateur kids the same.
"Everyone gets their equipment and training covered. It's vital - these fighters are the future of the sport so as trainers we have the responsibility to nurture and develop that talent no matter what their background or circumstances are."
One of the charity nights that funds Rotovegas' youth amateur initiative is the annual Christmas with a Punch corporate fight night in Rotorua on Saturday, November 26.
The event, in its fourth year, sees local personalities, business people and sportspeople go toe-to-toe in the ring.
Warren is also planning to extend his successful Ultimate P4mance - a Champion Made schools programme which this year sees the head coach working alongside Whangamarino School, Owhata School, Lynmore Primary School and Reporoa College.
It teaches students fitness, boxing techniques and skills which help them learn self-control and boost self-esteem and confidence.
"We want to give kids more confidence and [this programme] we've found is working," he said. "Some of the things boxing teaches is discipline, structure, hard work and focus - essential life skills."
2016 Sons of Boxing amateur tournament
When: Saturday, November 19
Where: Distinction Hamilton Hotel & Conference Centre, Hamilton.
