Trio strike gold

MUTLIPLE Sunraysia boxers have won gold medals at a major South Australian tournament.

Ladd’s Boxing Gym’s Charlie Cooper and The Boxing Cartel duo Rhys Hutchinson and Jacob Patten were winners in their respective divisions at last week’s Australian Boxing Club Championships in Adelaide.

Cooper, who has a 6-0 record this year, kept his taller opponent on the ropes for much of his bout, his control earning the gold in the elite 51kg division.

Clubmate Hamish Berry, meanwhile, won silver in the youth 54kg division.

Coach Jackson Ladd said Cooper’s hard work was holding him in good stead.

“The nature of amateur boxing is that his run will come to and end at some stage, but he has gained some real confidence from it,” Ladd said.

“He’s also fighting at 51kg now, down from 54, which I think will help as most of his opponents are a few inches taller.

“He works hard and just puts in the effort.

“Similar to Hamish, his opponent was a bit taller than him but he kept him on the ropes for most of the fight and stayed in control.”

It was an ideal boxing debut for Patten, who earned the gold medal in the elite novice 63.5kg final against Victorian Hassan Nayeeb.

“Jacob was drawn straight into the final against Hassan Nayeeb, who had a couple of fights beforehand and got the win,” coach Nick Wakefield said.

“Great achievement to win that in your first fight.

“He’s been with us for a couple of years but was a bit inconsistent early.

“I took him aside about three or four months ago and told him he was nearing a fight but needed that consistency.

“To his credit he’s been smashing the training.”

After a slow start, Rhys Hutchinson won his semi-final and then hit his straps in his gold medal fight against Liam Templeman in the junior novice 60kg division.

Luke Hutchinson lost in a close fight in the elite open 80kg division, but Wakefield said he was happy with his performance against his Southpaw opponent.