Boxing: Seven seeking nationals glory

A group of top local boxers are off to the New Zealand nationals in Queenstown this week. Pictured are Cole Downard, 14 (left), Renyck Dawson, 17, Chauncey Owens, 15, Jayden Jenkins, 15, Jimmy Walsh, 17, and Bradley Jenkins, 16. Photo / Ben Fraser

When you've trained as hard as the Central North Island boxing team - you have reason to be confident.

Seven local boxers will leave for Queenstown today to compete at the 2014 Boxing New Zealand Nationals.

When asking the fighters what they want to achieve at the nationals, most will tell you they have their sights set on one colour - gold.

Trainers Rex Jenkins and Powell Marshall have been working hard with the team and say they have a good chance to bring home medals.

"We are taking a group of prepared fighters and we will see what happens. We have some good chances at medals," Powell said.

The Central North Island boxing team is made up of three fighters from Rotorua - Jayden Jenkins, 15, Bradley Jenkins, 16, and Jimmy Walsh, 17 - and three from Taupo - Chauncey Owens, 15, Renyck Dawson, 17, and Cole Downard, 14. An elite female fighter from Tauranga, Cassandra Humphreys, has also joined the team for the nationals.

Rotorua trainer Jenkins said they had prepared well this year, but it was hard to predict what would happen.

"We have made predictions in years gone by but you don't really know [what will happen] until you get down there."

The Central North Island Boxing Association is one of 28 associations nationwide which make up Boxing New Zealand.

Upcoming fighter Walsh said this was his fourth time competing at the nationals, where he had won one gold and two silvers in the past. "I want to win gold," he said. "We have been training six days a week [in the lead-up], we are here at the gym twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays and running on the off days."

Walsh said his dad got him into the sport when he was younger and he had come to really enjoy the sport.

"I like the fitness and it is a buzz in the ring, and an adrenaline rush."

The Western Heights High School student will be fighting in the youth (under-18) under-75kg class this week.

Bradley Jenkins said one of the best things about the nationals was the opportunity to have plenty of fights.

"There are more fighters. Usually you only have one fight at a tournament but if you keep winning at the nationals you might have four fights."

The 2014 Boxing New Zealand Nationals will be at the Queenstown Events Centre this week, from Wednesday to Saturday, with about 150 fighters expected to attend.

Jenkins said the Central North Island Boxing Association usually had a bigger team for the nationals, but that just meant they could focus more on each fighter this year.