In front of a crowd of about 500 people at the West Leagues Club in Tamworth on Saturday, May 10, Drinkwater dominated the match winning over three two minute rounds. 

The 21-year-old, who trains at Final Round Boxing in Forster, was given just three days’ notice he would be fighting for the title when Thomson’s initial opponent withdrew. 

In order for him to be an ideal match weight, Drinkwater had to drop 4kgs in just four days. By the time the fight came around, Drinkwater weighed in at 73.6kgs. 

Admittedly, Drinkwater says nerves almost got the better of him on the night but a bit of perseverance paid off in the end. 

“I was pretty nervous the whole time,” Drinkwater said. 

“It definitely wasn’t my best fight. Nerves almost got the better of me but it still worked out. 

Trainer Paul Cheers said usually fighters were paired up eight weeks before a fight but it wasn’t unusual for that to change. 

“Often we’ve only had two weeks to prepare for a fight or in Guy’s case a few days,” he said. 

“That’s the nature of the amateur side of it. 

“I was confident Guy would do well and he managed to come home with the title in his first fight, so you can’t get better than that.” 

Also on the night, Cheers said local Beau Kawelmacher had a controversial loss to Tamworth fighter Brad Way for the light welter-weight title.

Cheers said unfortunately the fight just didn’t go in Kawelmacher’s favour. 

“As far as I’m concerned he won,” Cheers said.

“Even the crowd said it was the worst decision they’d ever seen. He boxed beautifully. We were sure he had it. 

“But at the end of the day that’s boxing for you.”

Meanwhile, months of training resulted in disappointment for 39-year-old Raph Kunzli who didn’t get the opportunity to contest the heavy weight title in the open class after his opponent, Tamworth fighter Ryan Ferrer pulled out at the last minute. 

Drinkwater, Kawelmacher and Kunzli now have their sights set on competing in Newcastle on May 27