Michael Aaty. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON
BOXING
Illawarra Amateur Boxing Association boxer Michael Aaty has qualified for the national amateur championships in Adelaide next February.
Aaty did so by winning the gold medal in the 56kg division at the NSW titles hosted by the IABA at the URAC Sports Hub at the University of Wollongong on Sunday.
IABA female boxer Monique Tucker also won gold. Tucker's trainer, IABA president Bill Corbett, said Australia women's boxing coach Bodo Andreass has invited the 22-year-old to attend the AIS for a week-long camp as part of a process to send a team to New Zealand next month.
Other IABA boxers to medal were Ben Dimitrovski silver in 81kg light heavyweight, Alan Aaty silver in 60kg novice, Tomika Clark gold in women's 60kg novice and silver in 64kg novice, Mark Marciano silver in super heavyweight and Noah Cassar-Borg gold in schoolboy category and silver in novice category.
This was the first time the NSW amateur championships had been held in the Illawarra since 1981. More than 5400 passed through the door at the URAC Sports Hub over three days.
Boxing Australia was well represented by president Ted Tanner, chief executive Kabel Kelleway and directors Jim Ferguson and Garry Moore. "It was a very successful event," IABA co-ordinator Larry Daniela said. "We were over the moon about it."
The chances of the IABA hosting the Australian championships are now a distinct possibility. Boxing Australia conducted a Box-Tag demonstration which was so successful that a centre will be established in the Illawarra possibly operating out of the UOW.
