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University boxers chosen to compete at international competition
Fri, May 22, 2009
The Haringey Box Cup at Alexandra Palace is the biggest competition of the season with competitors travelling from as far away as Ghana to fight. The final event in the boxing calendar, the Box Cup gives amateur boxers one last chance to shine.
Selection of the six boxers follows an extraordinary year of success for the University’s boxing club. After winning both the English university championships, hosted by Portsmouth last December, and the British university championships in Sheffield in March, the Portsmouth club is now the largest and most successful boxing club in the UK.
The university’s Director of Sport and Recreation, Dan Tilley, said: “The boxing club has secured over 20 gold and silver medals in national and international competitions in the last year which is absolutely superb.
“This is an exciting time for boxing at the university and I am thrilled to see the continued dedication, enthusiasm and discipline University of Portsmouth students are bringing to the sport.”
In the last year student boxers have competed in over 90 bouts from Penzance to Aberdeen but their success doesn’t remain within UK borders, students have also triumphed in competitions in Denmark, Norway and Japan.
The university boxing club has been transformed over the last two years, under the stewardship of Head Coach, Wayne Gardiner, who has doubled membership, increased training sessions and encouraged student boxers to coach school sessions as well as helping at all Hampshire boxing events.
He said: “The club has a great team atmosphere with both male and female boxers, ranging from absolute novices to national competitors. The standard of university boxing clubs used to be regarded as lower than amateur clubs but I am delighted to say that Portsmouth has now raised the bar.”
Wayne, who boxed for the Royal Navy before injuring his knee in 2004, was advised by his former coach that he had a flare for coaching. He shadowed another coach to learn the ropes and was soon training some of the Navy’s top boxers. Wayne joined the university a year later and was awarded coach of the year in 2008 at the annual British University Students Association (BUSA) Dinner.