Brent McDonald, Rowena Chapman, Keagan Fernando and Ruben Morley from Moree Boxing Academy are working on their fitness for their upcoming fights in the City versus Country tournament.
The tournament will be the first of a series of three held at Moree, Tamworth and Sydney.
The 15 Country boxers include eight competitors from Moree and others from Tamworth, Muswellbrook, Coonabarabran and Kandos.
Country won last year’s series 2-1, and Moree Boxing Academy coach Danny Cheetham said City would be fighting with a vengeance this year.
“The City guys will come out hard to try and win back the shield but Moree will have seven, possibly eight strong boxers.”
Rowena Chapman, 28; Brett Wright, 17; Cohen Van Ductren, 14; Brent McDonald, 15; Keagan Fernando, 17; Ruben Morley, 16; Jarom Haines, 15; and Jake Hetherington, 15, will all be taking to the ring on the night.
The boxers are matched with their opponents by their coaches based on weight and experience.
Cheetham said the Moree fighters would be expecting some tough competition.
Chapman’s bout will be against former Zimbabwean Michelle Muchatuta who is fighting out of Five Dock in Sydney.
“We are expecting a really tough fight,” Cheetham said.
Fernando will box against a southpaw (left-handed) boxer, so Cheetham has been working with him on tactics to beat him.
McDonald’s opponent is undefeated and is a very strong opponent, so they have been working hard to ensure McDonald can match his opponent in all aspects.
Meanwhile, Van Ductren is making his boxing debut at the tournament.
“He is a very good, young sportsman who is now trying his hand at boxing and we’re confident he will burst onto the scene,” Cheetham said.
“In the past our boxing matches have been some of the biggest events on the Moree sporting calendar and we expect this one will be no exception.”
Chapman agrees, saying Moree’s tournament was one of the more popular boxing events.
“Especially for other fighters; they always come here because we put on a good show,” she said.
Tickets can be purchased for the tournament from the Moree Town Hall all day on Saturday May 19 and are available at the door.
The doors open at 6.30pm for the first fight to start at 7.30pm.
A bar and barbecue will be running.
