BOXING: The present and the future of women’s boxing in Australia were on show at the National Championships on the Gold Coast, and onlookers could not have been more impressed.
The present is very much Commonwealth Games gold medalist Shelley Watts, boxing like the champion she is, breezing past her first opponent in less than two rounds in a display that was as clinical as it was deft.
And then there’s 19-year-old Perth boxer, Caitlin Parker, already mooted amongst the knowledgeable as a future star of the sport.
Wednesday night was her first appearance at an elite level competition in Australia. If that wasn’t daunting enough, her first opponent was former National 75kg champion, Jessica Messina.
But if the scene was meant to overwhelm the Perth teenager, she was having nothing of it.
Showing an economy of movement, she stood and delivered. Messina tried everything, attacking from all angles, dancing, prodding, going toe-to-toe.
But for every punch she threw, Parker gave one back. Often harder, often more direct. Few were surprised when the referee raised her hand, the judges unanimous in their decision.
There was no need for the judges to crunch numbers for Shelley Watts’s first outing of the championship.
It took the World Championship quarter finalist less than two rounds to notch up the easiest of wins over South Australia's Melanie Pieredes in the 64kg class.
Watts charged out in the opening round and quickly landed a series of jabs on her taller opponent.
The second round started the same way, forcing the referee to issue a standing count on the South Australian. Just seconds after the bout resumed, Watts again landed a flurry of punches, giving the referee no option but to call the 4-round fight to an end, awarding the fight to Watts on a TKO.
It was an impressive display from the 27-year-old Watts, who made history last year by becoming the first Australian female boxer to win a gold medal at a Commonwealth Games.
Also on Wednesday night there were victories for World Championship team member, Lauren Camilleri, in the 51kg class, and former Australian champion, Kylie Fulmer, in the 57kg class.
In the men’s competition, there were wins for Commonwealth Games boxers Luke Woods, of Tasmania, and Jordan Samardali, of Western Australia.
The 2015 Australian Boxing Championships continue at Paradise Point on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
One of the highlights of Thursday’s program will be the match-up between former World junior champion, Clay Waterman, and Glasgow Commonwealth Games boxer, Daniel Lewis, in the men’s 75kg class.
The Australian Championships will run through until Saturday night.
BOXING AUSTRALIA