BOXING is back and Mildura’s fighters are looking to continue last year’s stellar form.
Seven athletes from Ladd’s Boxing Club, Iron Fist and Boxing Cartel will make the trip to Adelaide this weekend for an exciting array of fights.
Ladd’s Boxing Club will be represented by young guns Charlie Cooper, who won the King of the Ring and the WA vs SA event last year, and Australian silver medallist Robert Burns, who finished four out of his five wins by stoppage.
Coach Jackson Ladd said they had nominated four fighters but were only successful in securing the two fights.
“Robert has moved up 6kg since he last fought and is fighting at 60, he has grown over the last few months and his boxing ability has grown with the development of his body,” he said.
“Charlie is sitting at 52.2 kg and he will be fighting at 51 kg where he will be campaigning even better than at 54kg.
“We’ve had the boys sparring three to four times a week to get the ring fitness back, we’ve had some help from the MMA boys and the diet, training and weight cuts have been good.”
Over at the Iron Fist camp, Gab Toutai and Egemen Keleser will both be fighting in the elite division against high-level opponents at 71kg and 80kg respectively.
Toutai, who is stepping up to his new weight category, will face the talented Stanley Afegbe, while Keleser will battle the technically proficient William Mlacic.
Coach Buster McWilliams said he was looking forward to an exciting night of fights.
“The guys have been sparring every weekend with good opposition,” he said.
“Our gym is full of good sparring, so we are pretty blessed. The guys are probably the fittest they’ve ever been and they’re all feeling good and looking forward to getting it done.
“The guy that Gab is fighting Eg has fought and the guy that Eg is fighting Gab has fought, so we’ve got a bit of inside knowledge.
“They’re looking forward to getting in there and doing what they do best.”
Meanwhile, Boxing Cartel’s brothers Luke and Rhys Hutchinson will be stepping back into the ring fighting at 80kg and 63kg, while Kobi Baker-Doolan will be making his debut fighting at 75kg.
Coach Nick Wakefield said it had been the best camp so far and the team were looking forward to their first fight of the year.
The matches are this Saturday at the Dom Polski Centre in Adelaide from 6pm.
