THE intesity of their workouts lifts markedly this week as Bendigo boxers Todd Robertson and Sam Baker prepare for their state championship finals.
Hours of training at The Hit Factory in Long Gully have gone into their preparation for Sunday’s contests.
Robertson, 20, will take on Bill Axon in the battle to be the state’s under-64kg champion.
Baker celebrated his 15th birthday last Sunday and will be fighting to capture the junior division under-64kg crown.
Trainer Danniel Burton said both had been sparring and training well in the lead-up to the Victorian Amateur Boxing Association finals at Brunswick’s Reggio Calabria Club.
Robertson scored a points victory in his semi-final.
His record now stands at 2-1.
Baker gained a walkover in the semi-final and takes on Dyson Rose in the decider.
Burton said the Hit Factory team had not gained a lot of information about Rose in the titles build-up.
“The main thing for Sam is to focus on what he can do,” Burton said.
Sunday’s bout will be the second of Baker’s career.
“Sam has worked really hard since he joined the gym about 18 months ago,” Burton said.
“Since his first bout we have worked a lot on being more forward when he punches.
“The main thing is that Sam learnt a lot from the experience and has a chance to fight for a state championship.”
Robertson bounced back from a defeat in the second contest of his career to win the state championships semi-final.
“To fight for a state championship was always a goal,” Robertson said.
He took up boxing a few rounds into last year’s football season and has not looked back.
“I am really enjoying the challenge of every training session, and competing.”
Defence is an area he has worked on in regular sparring sessions with Baker.
He has also analysed the tapes of his recent fights and picked up more on do’s and dont’s in his bid to derail Axon.