An amazing night of boxing – inclusion & community spirit.
Saturday night at the SEEC in Ferntree gully Melbourne saw the ever popular Masters Boxing Community put on another awesome night of entertainment.
Over 400 spectators gathered across 2 sessions to support the Masters Boxing Community showcase their skill, their passion, their stories and their hearts.
For those of you unaware of Masters boxing – this is a sport of the more ripened athletes ranging from 34 years old to 71 years old, coming together to participate with passion in the sport of boxing. Every masters boxer comes with a story, a background, normally a heart breaking and tear jerking story that can relate to every soul. “Boxing has saved my life” words I have heard all over the world, but in Masters I can actually see and feel the energy and understanding from the crowd to the boxer. This seems to be a special community that supports everyone and has introduced me to some of the nicest people in the world.
Straight from the start this bout showed it was going to be a tight nit affair for the judges. Rory keeping his pressure moving forward and Mick show casing his southpaw footwork. In the first round – Mick moved well but Rory pressured with a few flurries taking the round by a pinch. The 2nd round followed suit, but this time Mick pushed and edged it out. The bout went down to the wire with both boxers giving their all in a bout where the ref had nothing to do but watch two gentleman box.
Rory took the win in a split decision, but it was a quality bout to start the show. A quick shout out to Mick who first boxed over a year ago in Masters at 88kg, his dedication and commitment is amazing and he looks great at 72kg.
This bout was one of the highlights of the show. Jason Sue the more experienced of the two showed boxing style and class picking shots as his opponent came forward. Paul Christie started at a blistering pace, constantly on the attack – throwing an obscene amount of leather in the first 2 rounds. Many people in the crowd were expecting Paul to blow out – no masters boxer could maintain such a pace. Unfortunately for Jason Sue, everyone was wrong, Paul maintained his pace and even raised the tempo in the closing rounds. Credit must go to Jason who stayed composed throughout and kept picking his rear hand shot with great accuracy whilst withstanding what can only be called a STORM.
Paul won on a unanimous decision and deservedly took the MBV Belt – I look forward to seeing who will step up and challenge for this belt – I send warning to all (you better be fit)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW MBV CHAMPION PAUL CHRISTIE
Kia has been a regular on the Masters shows and has been improving on each performance, on this show she was facing Lauren Hollamby an x kickboxer from Beast GYM in the south east.
Both boxers put a great display showing heart and durability, constantly exchanging big right hands, and getting the crowd really into the fight.
Lauren was just edging the rounds with a more sustained set of combinations, but Kia was never out of the fight. The aggression and determination were superb, maybe some more thought on defense would have changed the course of the fight – but there was only one mindset in these 3 rounds.
Lauren took a unanimous win to introduce herself to the Female Masters Boxing Circuit.
Both these boxers had actually faced each other previously about 9 months back, the bout back then was messy and ugly with Chris trying to stay tall and rangy and Darcy trying to catch Chris with long overhand rights.
This time they faced each other over 4 rounds and both boxers have had a few more bouts since their last meeting – both enjoying success and titles interstate.
They say in boxing that every boxer has their boogeyman – I personally think these two are each other’s. I have watched them box beautiful and enjoy every second of their bouts, but against each other they are just a clash of styles.
Do not get me wrong, both boxers never stopped – they grinded out their rounds – they try everything they have ben studying and learning in the ring, but against each other its not a pretty match.
However, it was a very entertaining match up that swung both ways in the first couple of rounds – some amazing shots landing and both boxers not budging. In the 3rd round Chris managed to land 3 uppercuts within a 10 second time frame and that to me was the turning point and the moment he took control. Darcy continued to push and try to regain his ground, but Chris had settled into his game and walked out the win.
The best thing about this bout is that these two gents as much as they annoy the hell out of each other in the ring, as soon as the bell goes, they are like long lost old mates – it’s the epitome of what boxing is and the amazing people within it.
CHRIS CONBOY WINNER - WBF CHAMPION
JD HOOPER – I had never known this man until this show, but I had heard the rumors of this amazing fella who likes to take on the best boxers around and then befriend everyone.
It was a pleasure to meet you sir and well done in your bout with the smiling assassin Wayne Kong-Gardiner.
THANK YOU: A massive shout out to MBV – what a show – what a team of volunteers and amazing people.
Written by Craig Uphill
Sponsors –MBV – Solid Foundation Concrete – Stress Force PT – WBF