Otago fighters secure three gold medals

Otago fighters have returned from the national championships in Rotorua  with a swag of medals.

The Otago Boxing Association finished with a 100% record, bringing home three gold medals via Kasib Murdoch, Richie Hadlow and Callum Owen.

To add to that, the region’s Fight and Fitness Academy’s fighters — representing Manawatu for the last time before a planned switch back to Otago — brought home silvers through Awatea Henry and Manny Marshall.

For the Otago team the 100% result was one coach and president Bryan Usher believed had not been achieved for a long time — if ever.

"We’re absolutely thrilled that they performed the way they did. 

"They fought well in every round to advance to the next round and performed well in every bout as well."

Usher was the coach of youngster Murdoch, who continues to impress and beat Ali Ismatullah in a points decision to win the 60kg junior title.

He applied relentless pressure and worked the inside well, putting a standing eight count on his opponent in the third round of the final.

It backed up an impressive victory at the Australian golden gloves and Usher said Murdoch was getting better with every fight.

There was plenty of pressure on the hard-hitting Hadlow, who claimed gold in the 64kg division, He claimed his fourth national title with a comfortable points win over Sam Burdett-Clark.

Coach Stewart Mitchell said while the win was comfortable, Hadlow had to work hard for it.

Burdett-Clark had withstood a barrage of punches from Hadlow, although the Otago fighter’s aggression and strength was the telling factor.

Mitchell felt Hadlow had to work harder this year than in past years and that the standard of competition was rising, which was a good thing.

Owen, also coached by Mitchell,  claimed an impressive points decision against experienced fighter Andor Laszlo, a recent immigrant from Hungary.

Owen had won the middleweight class in 2014, but has since reclassified to welterweight.

He used some of the lessons from his semifinal loss in the new class last year to claim this year’s title.

While generally bringing an aggressive style, Owen adapted his plan to be patient and work the body to run out the winner.

Mitchell said it was impressive for Owen to now have national titles in two weights with just 28 fights to his name. He called the win the performance of the tournament and had plenty of praise for his fighter.

"Callum was brilliant, his head movement, his punching, his distance everything, he just boxed the best I’ve ever seen him box."

Henry was unlucky to have his final stopped early as he was beaten by Zachary Jensen, while Marshall lost a close points decision to Tyreke Nicholls in the final.