Boxing: Sykes Boxing Gym's Rotorua boxers are racking up wins

Boxers Luke Tapsell (left), 20, River Royal, 23, Tom Tapsell, 18, Ali Corbett, 12, Jim Tapsell, 11, and Jake Walker, 16, won medals at the Central Rotorua Boxing Tournament. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua's Sykes Boxing Gym has a group of young athletes brimming with potential.

Their coach Mike Sykes drills them hard on all aspects of boxing and the hard work paid off with six of his boxers impressing with their performances at their first event of the year, the Central Rotorua Boxing Tournament.

River Royal, 23, Luke Tapsell, 20, Tom Tapsell, 18, Jake Walker, 16, Ali Corbett, 12 and Jim Tapsell, 11, all finished the event with first-place trophies.

Sykes says he is "really proud" of the boys' efforts, particularly because he sees just how much work they put into developing their craft.

"I had six lined up and they all went really well at that last tournament, I've got some good boys here," Sykes says.

Royal gave a lot of weight away to an elite opponent in the light heavyweight division, but Sykes says he "mixed it with him well".

"They tried to bang each other round a bit for the first couple of rounds. Then River got a good uppercut and a good combination and his fitness - he had that guy in the third round. I was proud because we've been working hard and he's sparring well."

River, who now has a record of seven wins and three losses, says he feels good about his fight.

"I just worked inside and utilised the jab. I enjoy the fitness and the environment, Mike's a good coach and he's taught me heaps of discipline and respect that just comes with it."

Sykes says Tom, in the youth light heavyweight, stopped his opponent with a good body punch.

"It's good to see those body punches going because that was my favourite when I was boxing. I always work on that, Tommy hit this guy with a rip, put an eight count on him, then Tommy got two more good hits in and really buckled him."

Jim had his first fight, in the 40kg division, which was technically an exhibition match as his opponent already had three fights under his belt.

"Jimmy boxed really sharply, he out-boxed him and won easily really, in his first outing."

Sykes says Ali is "a gutsy wee bugger" and, despite the win just needs to work on his fitness.

"That win has already helped motivate him. We sat down afterwards and had a talk about what each of the boys needs to work on.

"Jake Walker did really well too in the middleweight division. He won really well because he's had a bit of a sore shoulder. He's gutsy too and he punches hard, he doesn't back up. He goes to war."

Luke, whose win in the middleweight division was his second official fight, says he is always learning more about the sport.

"I thought I was fitter than I was but it was good to get the win. I lost my first fight, at the same event last year, and I learned heaps from that.

"I got into boxing for the fitness at first, but when you get into it you start to love it and now I'm hooked. You get a lot of adrenaline in the ring but you still get tired - you have to stay calm, that's what I've learned from my two fights."

Sykes says the six who fought at the Central tournament are "only a handful" of the talented boxers he has coming through.

"The amount of people coming here at the moment is unbelievable and good kids too. The women's side is growing too, I have so many women coming through now."

This weekend Sykes is taking a team of eight to fight at the annual tournament at Nuki's Boxing Gym in Taupō, before heading to Christchurch where Central North Island will take on Canterbury.