It is a long way from a heavy bag in a garage to the Commonwealth Games medal dais, but Wanganui amateur boxer Micaiah Drayton took his first steps with a victory in his amateur boxing debut in Ruatoria on the weekend.
The 17-year-old Wanganui High School student competed on the 23-fight card at the Matariki Amateur event, defeating Gisborne's Mike Dibbon by points decision in their three-round bout at lightweight (57-60kg).
The event's spokesman Phil Heeney said it was a very good fight.
"After two rounds they each had a 10-9 round scored for them by the judges, and each had a 10-9 round scored against them, so it came down to the final round."
Drayton went to Kevin Gibson a year ago to learn the fundamentals of the sport as a way of making personal development.