TWO local boxers will travel to Nyngan on Saturday, both jumping in the ring for life-changing fights.
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Previously winning the North West NSW title, the New England lightweight title and the national light weight intermediate title, Bryce Jurd will fight for the NSW state title.
Coach, Colin ‘Chalky’ Rice, said with his previous wins Jurd has had good preparation for Saturday’s bout.
“We’ve kept him fresh and fit so hopefully on the day Jurd will show the same determination as he has in his last three title fights and he should do well,” Rice said.
Sparring with the likes of Luke Hetherington, Luke Robinson, Ashley Duncan and Leroy Brown has helped Jurd adapt to any style of fighter he may face.
“This will be Bryce’s 10th fight. Previously he has had eight wins and only won loss. We don’t know much about the fellow he is going up against but he is from around the Parkes area,” he said.
Moree Boxing Academy’s second ever female to join the team, Charlotte Meppem, will enter the ring for the first time on Saturday.
“Charlotte will be fighting a girl the same weight as her, 52kg, and her competitor had her first fight on Saturday night so she’s had one fight more than Charlotte,” he said.
Rice said usually fighters faced nerves and angst when stepping into their first bout, but said Meppem’s training had been focused around the mental side, as well as sparring with Moree Boxing Academy’s first female boxer, Row Chapman.
“Charlotte has been preparing for this fight for a few months now and myself and coach Jake Simpson are happy with her progress. She is quite tall and has long arms, and a nice powerful right hand so if she remembers to use that in her fight she should do well,” Rice said.
Fellow boxers Robinson and Brown have been helping Meppem in the ring to develop her skills and Simpson has been on the pads preparing her for different scenarios.
“If we can get Charlotte to keep her opponent at long range we should be fine. We’re very happy with how all of our boxers have been performing lately,” he said.
“I want to thank the sparring partners and our sponsors because without them we wouldn’t be able to take our boxers away to fight.”