General News
3 July, 2022
Golden opportunity for local fighters
FOR the first time in a decade, the highly coveted Sunstate Amateur Boxing League Golden Gloves are being hosted on the Tablelands, with local club Bryde’s Boxing Gym set to host the titles in Mareeba.
The prestigious Golden Gloves titles are typically held in or around Townsville and gathers boxers from across the country to compete with the last titles being held in Home Hill.
The last time the titles were held on the Tablelands was in Atherton 10 years ago and now this 22-23 July, the titles will be held at the Mareeba Turf Club.
Unlike the Queensland and Australian titles where boxers need to hit certain milestones before being able to compete, any boxer can nominate to compete in the Golden Gloves.
Boxers are separated into divisions based on their boxing experience and further separated into weight and age classes, ensuring a novice boxer with three fights won’t be going up against a veteran with 28 fights under their belt.
A Masters division has also been included in this year’s titles for boxers between 41-65 years old.
“As a trainer, you can put your boy in if you know he is tough and he is strong, he can beat a guy who has had more fight and that is what the Golden Gloves can produce,” Bryde’s Boxing Gym owner Wayne Bryde said.
“The titles coming up here is going to expose all the boxers, to let people know that we are here.
“Up here in North Queensland we are still producing all these champions with many more on the way.”
Bryde’s Boxing Gym put in a tender to host the titles at the Mareeba Turf Club and just a few weeks ago, got the call to hold the titles.
Mareeba has not had a title event since the late 80s and Bryde is feeling extremely honoured in being chosen to host the 2022 Golden Gloves titles.
“It is an absolute honour, I was sort of dreaming about these events and thinking ‘can I do it, can I actually do it’,” he said.
“When Michelle the secretary of Sunstate said I got it, I was just completely blown away.”
The gym has trained numerous Golden Gloves champions including two of Bryde’s own son’s Kurtis and Zackary, Zack Mulholland and current four-time champion Matthew Carrol among others.
While he may be eager to compete in this year’s titles, Carrol has got a fight just one week prior to the Golden Gloves.
“I really want to fight in this year’s titles especially since they are right in my backyard,” he said.
“I do have a fight one week before the titles against quite a tough opponent so if I do end up getting injured, I won’t be able to compete in the titles.”
Other boxing gyms around the Tableland have had their share of Golden Gloves champions and will be chomping at the bit to have another shot at the titles so close to home.
The Mareeba Turf Club will be transformed this July with thousands of people expected to attend the event from all corners of the country.
Out of state boxing gyms have even registered for this year’s titles with more expected over the coming weeks.
