CAMERON Hammond is one step away from representing Australia at this year’s London Olympics.
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He will be boxing at the Oceania Olympic Qualifier Championships in Canberra next week.
Four weeks of intensive training at the Australian Institute of Sport has prepared Hammond for the qualifier.
“I’m excited and a little nervous, but confident,” Hammond, who will fight in the 69kg division, said.
The first round of bouts will start next Wednesday and continue on to Sunday.
If Hammond is victorious he will join the Australian Olympic team and fly to London in a fortnight.
“I’m ready; I have been working to this point for a long time and can’t wait to fight next week.”
He will be fighting two or three opponents in three, three-minute rounds.
Hammond said after going into the nationals a little unprepared and still coming out on top, the Olympic qualifier shouldn’t be too much trouble.
Australian boxing coach Don Abbenett couldn’t agree more.
“He didn’t prepare himself well for the nationals and got through on his natural talent,” Abbenett
said. “This time he is ready; he has prepared himself. Hammond will be very dangerous; one of the ones to look out for,” he said.
Abbenett has been following the Moree boxer since 2007 and is confident he will be a force to be reckoned with if he makes the Australian team.
“He has been training hard and we all know what he is capable of. I’m confident that he will go through and I’m confident he will impress in London.”
Long-term coach Danny Cheetham wishes The Hammer all the best and believes his fitness has improved dramatically.
“Cameron is defending champion and favourite going into next week’s qualifier,” Cheetham said. “I’m confident that we will have a Moree representative in London.”
Hammond will be flying back into Moree after the qualifier for a week.