FORSTER boxers Beau Kawelmacher and Raph Kunzli will both have family in mind when they compete at the Central West Titles in Tamworth next month.
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Kawelmacher, 17, will be vying for the light welter-weight title when he goes up against Tamworth boxer Brad Way.
Kawelmacher lost to Way after
debuting in his first fight at the event two years ago.
The duo are training about six days a week with coaches Simon Maidment and Paul Cheers at Final Round Boxing in Forster.
Maidment takes a small group of boxers including Kawelmacher up to Port Macquarie at least once a fortnight to train with other experienced boxers but he is currently sourcing sponsorship from local businesses in order to continue this.
“Beau’s getting stronger and stronger all the time,” Maidment said.
“He lost to the guy he is fighting against last year so we have been focusing on his technique.
“He’s definitely a lot stronger and more confident this time around.”
Boxing since the age of 12, Cheers said Kawelmacher always puts 110 per cent into his training.
“We’ve seen his downfalls and his strengths and right now, he’s looking the best I’ve ever seen him.”
Kawelmacher, whose grandfather is very ill, says he is dedicating his fight to him.
“My pop has cancer and he’s pretty sick at the moment,” he said.
“We’re really close. I’d love to win for him.
“I’ve been training hard. My opponent has big, strong punches but I’m feeling pretty confident.
“Two years ago I wasn’t ready, I didn’t have the experience but I think now I do.”
For 39-year-old Kunzli who has been training with Cheers for the past two and half years, this will be his fourth fight but his first at Tamworth.
Cheers has described the veteran boxer as a “calculating fighter who will put up a good fight”.
He will be contesting the light heavy weight title in the open class against 79kg Tamworth fighter Ryan Ferrer.
"My biggest challenge for this fight will be to cut my weight right down to 79kg. "
- Raph Kunzli
After initially taking up boxing for fitness, Kunzli says he never realised his potential in the ring until he was encouraged by Cheers.
“I actually just started boxing to get fit and it kind of evolved one day,” Kunzli explains.
“I’m getting older so I’m not looking for a big career but you never know.
“My biggest challenge for this fight will be to cut my weight right down to 79kg.
“This will be my first fight in Tamworth but I’m quietly confident.”
Kunzli will also be dedicating his fight to a family member - his father who sadly passed away recently.
“I’ll definitely have him in mind. Hopefully he’ll help me on the night,” he said.
Cheers said his boxers had been dedicated to their training and deserved to do well.
“They’re both fighting for pride in their families,” he said.
“You could say they’re both very deserving.”
The Central West ‘War of the Worlds’ titles will involve 15 regional clubs from NSW and will be held at the West Leagues Club in Tamworth on Saturday May 10.
To see a training video of Raph Kunzli and Paul Cheers in action visit www.greatlakesadvocate.com.au