Boxing: Commonwealth Games team named

Soulan Pownceby at the Olympics in Athens last year.

Six boxers, including Olympian Soulan Pownceby, have been named for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March.

Kahukura Benston and Wellington brothers Scott and Jamie Gardner were others in the team the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Boxing New Zealand confirmed today.

Bentson competed in the Manchester Games in 2002 in the light middleweight division and is now a middleweight.

He is arguably New Zealand's most experienced boxer and is unbeaten in his division.

Pownceby, the sole New Zealand boxer at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, will appear at his first Commonwealth Games.

He won a bronze medal at this year's Commonwealth Championships and a gold at the Oceania Championships.

Scott Gardner is national featherweight champion. Brother Jamie is the lightweight champion.

Other members are Wellington super heavyweight Greg Weenink and welterweight Joe Blackbourn.

Blackbourn, 19, is New Zealand welterweight title holder and rated highly by officials.

He won the Jameson Belt for the most scientific boxer at the national championships.

Weenink won the Oceania gold medal and a silver at the Commonwealth Championships this year.

The team:

Joe Blackbourn (Wellington), welterweight

Soulan Pownceby (Canterbury) light heavyweight

Scott Gardner (Wellington) featherweight

Jamie Gardner (Wellington) lightweight

Greg Weenink (Wellington) super heavyweight

Kahukura Bentson (Auckland) middleweight

- NZPA