Young Boxers glove up for meet | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton

IT'S TIME to put the gloves back on for the young boxers from the Rockhampton PCYC with about 10 of them set to travel to Mackay at the weekend for a tournament.

It is early days yet for veteran trainer Des Upton as many of his troupe have only recently returned to training and are not quite ready for a new season of competition.

Among the young fighters training at the PCYC are Wayde Goltz and Joel Elliot.

Goltz has not been fighting at the PCYC for about 12 months, but before taking a break was one of the most exciting boxers in his age group.

Elliot has been fighting Muay Thai recently, but when in the ring for the traditional form of the game was always admired for his correct fighting technique.

Ben Bowes is also on the comeback trail after a lengthy break and he too will be a force later in the year if can recapture his form.

Hopefully those three will be back in the ring for the tournament at Rockhampton PCYC set to run on April 17.

Normally the first on the bus for a tournament is Harley Broom, but he will be an absentee for the Mackay trip having suffered a shoulder injury.

One of the main fights on the card is Lachlan Hinchliffe who will be up against Emerald fighter Tommy Lavell.

“Lachlan has not fought him before.

“It should be a good fight, but Lachlan is a bit down in condition,” Upton said.

One fighter who is rarely down in condition is Jay Barrett.

“Jay is a real good trainer,” Upton said.

In Mackay Barrett will face a local boy, Tyson Best.

It is wait-and-see for Robert Walters who, despite working well at training, has yet to get a fight at Mackay.

The Rockhampton PCYC 2009 fighter of the year Nat Hinchliffe is another waiting to hear if he has a match for the weekend.

It is understandable boxers are avoiding Hinchliffe as he maintains the perfect fight record of nine wins from his nine bouts.

Another who finds it hard to get a good match in Lincoln Martyn. Upton is still hoping Martyn will get a fight, but the only one he has been offered is with an opponent 10kg above his weight.

When you see Lar Bartley in the ring it is hard to believe she is still just a schoolgirl. Bartley is a tremendous boxer with a telling punch and a straight stance.

Upton is confident she will be matched at the weekend.

“She will be very hard to beat,” he affirmed.

Also making the trip is Kuany Kutah, although he will need to wait to see who he has got for a contest as will the exciting Jack Busby, who plans his return to the ring after an operation.

Brody Ahwong travels with the squad and will fight. Upton admits he knows little of Ahwong’s form as he trains with his father.

Neerim Peters makes up the travelling group and he has gained a fight against an Irish boxer now based at Mackay.