The Sydney University Boxing Club (SUBxC) has had one of their most successful years yet, with four fighters currently holding state titles.
SUBC coaches Dennis Moffatt, Ashgahr Ali Shah, Rocky Cavallaro, Greg Stanton and George Pellis have contributed greatly to the results of their students – Tom Fernon, Aleksandr Martynenko, Leonie Lum and Nadine Apetz all hold state titles – due to their highly enthusiastic and well organised training sessions that have seen boxers train harder than ever.
SUBxC Head Coach Johnny Lewis, who himself is to be recognised for over 12 years of service to the club with the presentation of a Gold award at the Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness Blues Dinner in November in the Great Hall, was full praise for his coaches.
“It’s great to see that the time and effort given generously by these coaches has been rewarded not just with competition wins, but with a steady increase in those looking to take up boxing for the first time as a fitness regime,” said Lewis.
Once of those coaches is Shah, another boxer tuned coach, who was coached by Lewis. In his amateur competitions days Shah had 214 fights, for 174 wins, and also served as captain of the Pakistan Olympic boxing team at two Olympics. He won 10 international gold medals, seven silver medals and 12 bronze medals representing his country. Shah’s knowledge of ringcraft and training methods has had an immense impact on the rise in skill levels of his boxers.
In October, SUBxC’s Tom Fernon and Aleksandr Martynenko returned from the Boxing NSW State titles in Wollongong as champions – Fernon (a Graduand Majoring in History and Sociology) in the 69kg welterweight elite open division and Martynenko in the 81kg elite open division.
Both boxers will now have an opportunity to progress to the Australian titles next February in Adelaide. The national titles are used as a stepping stone towards selection in the next Commonwealth games in 2014 in Glasgow.
James Robinson and Masod Khwaja made up the clubs largest team for sometime in the competition.
Also achieving a string of successes this year has been Leonie Lum, coached by George Plellis. Lum, who had her first competitive fight earlier this year, was victorious in her fight for the lightweight state title in September.
In the coming weeks Lum will be undertaking further advanced studies at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York under the watchful eye of champion coach Darius Ford. Gleason’s Gym, which opened in 1937, was where Muhammad Ali trained in the 1960’s.
Sydney University Postgraduate student Nadine Apetz will head back to her home country of Germany this month to defend her German national welterweight title, before she returns back to Sydney where she is the NSW welterweight champion.
Once back in Sydney Apetz will decide between two offers from UWS and University of Sydney for Phd study in her field of neuro sciences.
“I hope to stay at Sydney University but it may come to awaiting news as to which university will offer a scholarship,” said Apetz.
Apetz will also turn her attention to gaining selection for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
