General News
1 August, 2022
Pro boxer sets eyes on Kuranda
FOUR-TIME professional boxing champion Omari Kimweri will trade the bustling streets of Melbourne for the Tablelands as he plans to open his own boxing gym in Kuranda.
![Tanzanian-Australian professional boxer Omari Kimweri will be opening a new gym in Kuranda, pictured here with Louise Anderson-Clemence from Ashley Cupitt Boxing Academy who hosted Kimweri recently.](https://mareebaexpress-4634.kxcdn.com/img/containers/assets/news/sport_pro-boxer-1659318281.jpg/ad6a71360e8442ce1c20e45a105cf944.jpg)
Growing up in Tanzania, Kimweri came from a boxing family and quickly rose through the amateur ranks before competing for his country in the Commonwealth Games in 2006 against a two-time Olympic champion.
Kimweri fought in the flyweight and light-flyweight divisions during his career, retiring from the sport three years ago with a professional record of 17 wins and five losses, seven of those wins by knockout.
He held four separate champion titles including the Australian Flyweight, WBO Oriental Light-Flyweight, WBA Pan African Light-Flyweight and WBC Silver Flyweight.
Kimweri was present for the recent Sunstate Amateur League Golden Gloves tournament and was highly impressed with the quality of boxing showcased.
“There are a lot of kids that want to box, there is a lot of talent up there,” he said.
“It will be a good opportunity for a lot of kids on the street, I want to help them out.”
Ashley Cupitt’s Boxing Academy in Yungaburra hosted Kimweri while he was searching for a location to open his gym and was a special guest at the tournament.
While he has settled on Kuranda, Kimweri is still finalising the venue for his gym and searching for a home to relocate his family prior to opening his new gym.