Three Tauranga Boxing Club members who will compete at the Boxing New Zealand National Championships have the form and credentials to return home with medals.

The event is being hosted in Christchurch next week from October 3 to 8.

Boxing under the banner of the Bay of Plenty Boxing Association - Ariane Adlington (Elite Female Welterweight) Michael Crosa (Youth Light Welterweight) and Hannah Walker (Junior Female Lightweight) all won North Island Golden Gloves titles in June 2018.

Tauranga Boxing Club Head Coach Chris Walker says the Christchurch-bound team have been training well and putting in the extra work necessary to shine in the Nationals spotlight.

'All three boxed at the Nationals in Rotorua twelve months ago and are well aware of the requirements to win a national title.”

Ariane Adlington has three opponents in her division, with her biggest challenge likely to come from Deanne Carpenter, who defeated her in the Elite Women Middleweight division last year, he says.

'Ari has made huge improvement in the last twelve months and will enter the ring at the Hornby Club in Christchurch with seven wins from 12 fights.”

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Walker has been making waves in Junior Women's competition in the last two seasons, with 14 victories from 16 bouts.

Twelve months ago, Hannah impressed many at ringside at the Rotorua Nationals winning the Junior Female 54 kilo title, defeating Leoni Rosin who had previously competed at the junior world kickboxing championships. 'Hannah continues to improve fight by fight and is hungry for a second national title” said Coach (and proud father) Chris Walker.

'Michael Crosa is a real talent and has a bright future in the sport and although still graded as a novice boxer, has been stepping up and defeating much more experienced opponents”. At his last outing Michael won a Central North Island provincial title and takes seven wins from 9 fights with five stoppage wins, to the Christchurch Nationals.

'Canterbury is a happy hunting ground for our club, as the last time we went to the Nationals in Christchurch, Anthony Taylor and Katie Flyger returned home with a gold medal apiece in their luggage.”

The best recommendation for success, for the three Western Bay of Plenty boxers in action at the 2018 BNZ National Championships, is to have Coach Walker in their corner. Walker has trained six amateur pugilists to ten National Championship titles, with Robbie Walker, Anthony Taylor and David Aloua-Rogers going on to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

In 1998, Walker was awarded the Joe Thwaites Shield, as the coach of the Jameson Belt winner (most scientific senior boxer) when Robbie Walker added the prestigious award to his Light Welterweight title at the Hutt Valley Nationals.

Boxing New Zealand National Championships – Bay of Plenty Team

Elite Female Welterweight – Ariane Adlington

Youth Light Welterweight – Michael Crosa

Junior Female Lightweight - Hannah Walker