Magan is aiming to strike gold at worlds

RISING STAR: Magan Maka is training for the Women's Youth World Championships in Turkey.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
I've got four weeks to go, and have been training morning and nights and just sticking to the programme ... I really want to bring a gold medal home for New ZealandMagan Maka Wellsford boxer Magan Maka doesn't let much get under her skin.
Her cool, calm exterior which exudes maturity masks a determined youngster ready to give everything to get what she wants.
The Rodney College student is currently juggling a busy training and competition schedule with her final year at school.
The 17-year-old is preparing to contest next month's AIBA Women's Youth World Championships in Antalya, Turkey after qualifying at recent trials where she defeated two older Auckland-based boxers comfortably, securing her place in the six-strong Kiwi contingent headed for Turkey.
"I'm pretty excited and can't wait to get there ... I've got four weeks to go, and have been training morning and nights and just sticking to the programme ... I really want to bring a gold medal home for New Zealand," Maka said.
Over the past few years, Maka has made her mark in women's boxing in New Zealand, and last year, represented her country at the Senior World Women's Boxing Championships in Barbados, at just 16 years of age.
She was the youngest competitor to have ever represented NZ in boxing when she fought at the championships, and she was the youngest boxer at the tournament by a long stretch.
Instead of letting her more experienced opponents intimidate her, Maka said she has tried to learn as much as she can from the older girls to help with her own boxing.
"I fought the former world champion from the United States last year first up in Barbados and lost 6-7 so there was only one point in it. It was a really good experience and it was the best tournament I have been to. It wasn't nerve-wracking at all."
Maka said she is used to fighting older and more experienced opponents. "I don't usually fight girls my age because of my weight - I'm 75kg and fight as a middleweight," she said.
Maka trains at Central Gym in Auckland with coach Henry Schuster three days a week, and the rest of the time at Wellsford Boxing Gym with her father - a former boxer - Fili Maka.
On Saturday, she travelled to Auckland to spar with current world welterweight women's boxing champion Daniella Smith, 38, from Kaikohe, before heading into a training camp with the Turkey-bound NZ team.
"I've sparred with Daniella a couple of times and can keep up with her - it has helped me heaps," Maka said.
Most Tuesday nights, Maka travels to Whangarei to work out with two budding female boxers - Deane Carpenter and Kayla Munday.
The girls' coach, Whangarei Boxing Gym's Tim Bowman believes Maka has what it takes to achieve whatever she sets her mind to.
"She is at the height of everything at the moment. She trains very hard and is becoming well known throughout New Zealand," Bowman said. "The girls (and myself) really appreciate what she puts back into boxing," he said.
Maka enjoyed helping the girls and said it helped with her own fitness as well.
While the world championships are her priority, Maka has also been selected for the national team to compete at the Arafura Games during May, in Darwin.
Following her trip to Barbados, which was all self-funded, Maka and her family are presently looking for sponsors to cover tournament costs.
The AIBA Women's Youth World Championships start on April 21 and conclude on May 1 in Antalya, Turkey.