Arapawa ambush

The team at Picton’s Arapawa Boxing Club are celebrating breakthrough success across the ditch.

Three fighters from the Picton-based club recently travelled to Brisbane for the Boxing Queensland International Open Golden Gloves event, where all punched above their weight.

Highlight for the Marlborough trio was the efforts of Israel Reece, who claimed top honours in the 65kg youth open division.

Arapawa coach Glen Cotton was elated with the gym’s success at such a popular and hotly-contested event.

“The Australian tournament was the biggest in the southern hemisphere,” he explained. “Israel is the first boxer from Marlborough to win at that event. There were 25 countries that went there so it is big for our gym and our region.

“Israel’s win has given his chances of making the New Zealand team to go to the youth world champs in Montenegro a really big boost.”

Tony Jones also made the Brisbane trip, reaching the semifinals of the 70kg youth A level, while Nyala Stephenson lost in the final of the 57kg open female grade.

The Arapawa crew are in a for a hectic September, with several fighters in action prior to the national champs in Whanganui at the end of the month.

Nyala has been selected as part of the New Zealand Youth team which will compete at the Oceania championships in Samoa 7-12 September.

Israel will also represent his country, as part of the NZL Youth team who will take on a team from Victoria, Australia in Tauranga on 5 September.

On the same date, Tony and another Arapawa pugilist, Patrick Pandeya, will compete in the Papanui Heavy Hitters tournament in Christchurch.