Boxing: Kiwi boxers guaranteed at least five medals at Commonwealth Games

Kiwi Troy Garton beat Aratwa Kasemang of Botswana in the Women's 60kg quarterfinal. Photo / Photosport

New Zealand has its first female boxing medalist at the Commonwealth Games, and the team's trainer may be about to lose his beard to celebrate this historic run.

Tasmyn Benny may, in time, be one of those sporting trivia questions after her bronze in the 45-48kg class broke the ceiling. And with Alexis Pritchard (57kg) and Troy Garton (60kg) guaranteed at least bronze from Friday's semifinals, this Kiwi women's crew will continue to etch their names in history at the Gold Coast Games.

In all, New Zealand's eight-strong team will collect five medals, with heavyweight David Nyika and super heavyweight Patrick Mailata also squaring off in their semifinals on Friday.

While chuffed with the team's success, the five medal mark was bittersweet for trainer Jake Rapira as the beard he has groomed since 2013 is now under major threat.

At their first meeting prior to the Games, leading gold medal hope Nyika yelled out Rapira should lose his beard if the New Zealand team could match their 1950 counterparts and achieve a five-maul haul.

"Everyone cheered and agreed and I had no say in it at all," Rapira said. "I'm not too happy about it. I've put in an official protest. I'd rather have it dyed – I went for silver like the Fern but they're thinking rainbow colours.

"They're going to use a cutthroat and they all want to take turns. Lucky I'm the cut man so if they mess up I'll be able to fix myself."

Benny lost Thursday's semi to Northern Ireland's Kristina O'Hara but after winning her first round bout, the 19-year-old Navy medic - nicknamed "eggs benny" – walked away with bronze and new-found notoriety.

"I didn't actually know until I got told after my fight. It's pretty crazy," Benny said of creating history. "I'm pretty happy I didn't expect to go home with a medal my goal was just to win one fight.

"I'm glad I get to take a medal back for New Zealand from my first Commonwealth Games.
I'm just trying to soak it up it's pretty amazing just being on TV and being in the village with all these amazing athletes.

"It's back to the navy for me now. It's probably not the result they wanted me to get but I think they'll still be proud."

For Garton, nerves built throughout the week as she was forced to wait seven days for her first bout.

The one-time Shortland Street actress, and costume and wardrobe worker on the show Spartacus, overcame a huge height and reach disadvantage to claim a gutsy unanimous win over Botswana's Aratwa Kasemang.

Garton kept walking forward, landing the much heavier blows to progress to the semifinals where she meets Australia's Anja Stridsman.

"I knew I was going to have to take a few punches to get in there which is always hard no-one wants to get hit but it worked," the 30-year-old said. "I'm someone that aims high so I want that gold medal. Having that goal means I'll work harder to succeed at that.

"It's going to be a tough next fight but I'm ready for it. Our friendly neighbours next door… I love fighting the Aussies."

In Wednesday's other bout, Upper Hutt's Ryan "Lionheart" Scaife put up a brave fight in losing his quarterfinal to Botswana's showboating Dieudonne Wilfred Seyi Ntsengue in the 75kg division.

Scaife, a small middleweight, landed plenty of slick combinations but couldn't do enough to convince the judges to rule in his favour.