Laden with medals the Australian Boxing Team almost reached the excess baggage limit before boarding their return flight from the 2007 Oceania Championships in Samoa.
The Aussie men won five gold and three silver medals at the event, demonstrating they are ready to take on the world at the 2007 World Championships later this year.
It was the young guns who set the agenda. Teenagers Jimmy Ceapa (51kg) and Luke Boyd (54kg) surprised management winning gold in their divisions.
Queenslander Jarrod Fletcher (75kg) and Victorians Will Tomlinson (60kg) and Brad “Hollywood” Pitt (91kg) were also too strong and brought home gold for Australia.
Taking out the silver medals were 19-year-old Paul Fleming (57kg), Todd Kidd (64kg) forced to settle for silver following a cut lip and Daniel Beahan (+91) who could not match the strength or size of his opponent.
In the women’s event, Jasmine Spring from Queensland won silver in the 54kg division.
The Aussies are now focussing on the 2007 World Boxing Championships, the first Olympic qualifying event. Chicago, the US candidate city for the 2016 Olympics, was announced as the host of the 2007 World Boxing Championships by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and USA Boxing last week.
It will be staged October 17 through November 1.
To qualify for the Olympic Games, the Aussies must place in the top eight in the 48kg to 81kg weight divisions and in the top four in the heavy weight divisions (91kg and 91kg+).