Boxing: Tauranga Boxing Club trio represent Bay at National Champs

Tauranga Boxing Club members, from left, Hannah Walker, Michael Crosa, Ariane Adlington are heading to national boxing champs next week. Photo / Supplied

Three Tauranga Boxing Club members will be heading to next week's national boxing champs knowing they have done all they can to prepare.

Ariane Adlington (Elite Female Welterweight) Michael Crosa (Youth Light Welterweight) and Hannah Walker (Junior Female Lightweight) will be boxing under the banner of the Bay of Plenty Boxing Association at the Boxing New Zealand National Championships in Christchurch between October 3-6.

All three have the form and credentials to return home with medals, with all winning North Island Golden Gloves titles in June this year.

Tauranga Boxing Club head coach Chris Walker said the three had been training well and putting in the extra work needed to shine in the nationals spotlight.

"All three boxed at the nationals in Rotorua 12 months ago and are well aware of the requirements to win a national title," Walker said.

Walker said the team, who had each been boxing for about three years, were travelling down to the South Island with confidence in their preparation for the competition.

"We've done pretty much all we can do ... now it's basically down to them," Walker says.

Adlington has three opponents in her division, with her biggest challenge likely to come from Deanne Carpenter, who defeated her in the Elite Women Middleweight division last year. She will enter the ring with seven wins from 12 fights.

Twelve months ago, Hannah impressed many at ringside at the Rotorua Nationals winning the Junior Female 54kg title, defeating Leoni Rosin who had previously competed at the junior world kickboxing championships.

"Hannah continues to improve fight by fight and is hungry for a second national title," Walker, who is Hannah's coach and proud father, says.

Walker describes Crosa as a "real talent" with a bright future in the sport and although still graded as a novice boxer, has been stepping up and defeating much more experienced opponents.

"At his last outing, Michael won a Central North Island provincial title and takes seven wins from nine fights with five stoppage wins to the Christchurch Nationals."

Walker has trained six amateur boxers to 10 national championship titles, with Robbie Walker, Anthony Taylor and David Aloua-Rogers going on to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

Walker is hoping for similar experiences for his younger two fighters.

"We're just laying down the foundation for the Commonwealth Games ... we're still in the early stages."

Walker says the last time the club went to a nationals in Christchurch their two fighters Anthony Taylor and Katie Flyger returned home with gold and believes all three have the potential to come away with the same result.

However, he says it won't be easy, expecting all their bouts, likely to be next Wednesday or Thursday, to be tough.

Boxing New Zealand National Championships - Bay of Plenty Team:

Elite Female Welterweight – Ariane Adlington
Youth Light Welterweight – Michael Crosa
Junior Female Lightweight - Hannah Walker