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Boxers from Wellington, Invercargill, Queenstown and Christchurch will converge in Invercargill on Saturday night to compete in the Southland Boxing Championships.
The scheduled fight card will include 14 fights from male and female boxers, in cadet boys, junior, youth and the elite division.
Southland Boxing Association secretary/treasurer Tom O’Connor, who was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, said promising young boxer Jesse Hawken, from Southern Queens in Invercargill, would be one to watch during the championships, after gaining experience from competing at the national championships last year.
“The exposure he gained from that [NZ Champs] event will hopefully see him attend the nationals again this year, and do well here [Southland Champs] too,” Mr O’Connor said.
Hawken also recently claimed the 2017 South Island Golden Gloves title in Christchurch.
Mr O’Connor said he was looking forward to attending the formal presentation of his New Zealand Order of Merit, which recognised his 58 years of service to boxing in Southland and at national level, which would happen in Wellington on August 31. He said his two daughters and their partners would accompany him to the presentation.
- Southland Boxing Championships, Ascot Park Hotel, Saturday, July 15, 6.30pm. Door sales only, $15 adults, $5 children.
The New Zealand Boxing Championships are scheduled to be held in Rotorua in September.