Boxers battle for Golden Gloves titles
Johnny Kennard, fighting out of Rangiora Boxing, was one of the stand-out performers during the Golden Gloves. Photos Peter Jones.
Simcox Stadium echoed to a new sound at the weekend, with South Island’s boxing elite gathering in Marlborough to vie for prestigious Golden Gloves titles.
The hard-hitting action took place on both Saturday and Sunday, the event co-hosted by Blenheim club Box On Boxing and the Reefton Boxing Gym.
Lee Tepuia, owner of the Box On Boxing Gym, and the Reefton club’s Dean Giddens, got together last year and decided to bring the event, which is traditionally staged in Christchurch, to the top of the south for the first time.
Over the course of the weekend over 100 fighters showed their skills across 49 bouts, with pugilists coming from a wide array of gyms, as far afield as Invercargill.
Ages ranged from mini cadets (10-years-old) to elite open grade fighters of any age, with categories for both novice (six or less fights) and open (six+) boxers.
Several local fighters claimed Golden Gloves titles, including a trio from the Picton-based Arapawa Boxing Club – brothers Matthew and Tony Jones, plus Israel Reece. Former Marlborough boxer Rogene Daquioag, now fighting out of Hickman’s Boxing Gym, won the under 63kg title.
One of the classiest fighters on show was former New Zealand age group representative Johnny Kennard from the Rangiora Gym, who fought in the under-70kg weight division. He provided one of the highlights of the Saturday afternoon session, coming up with a late knockdown of rival Makoto Toonen, the Woolston fighter ahead on points before the TKO.
Johnny, 19, who has never been to Blenheim before, said, “I loved [the tournament], the venue, it was a cool atmosphere ... friendly people and well organised.”
He admitted to suffering from nerves before each bout but loves the thrill of competing.
“I get nervous every time ... self-doubt on the day of. You don’t even want to be there beforehand, but when you get in there it all goes away. [The nerves] are something to overcome, that’s why you feel so much better when you get it done.”