SELECTION for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games is right in the sight of Bendigo middleweight boxing champion Ewen Jones.
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After hundreds of hours training with Olympic representative Lynden Hosking, the boxing star steps inside the ropes at next week's Australian Amateur Boxing Association national titles.
The championships in Perth double as selection trials for the Glasgow Games.
It's the third time Jones will have fought at national titles.
"This is the best shape I have been in," he said before another testing workout with Hosking at Supabox in Garsed Street.
"The feedback from Lynden after fights and training is fantastic."
The pair joined forces about a year ago.
Jones, 29, first took up boxing when he was 16 and spent many years with Pat Connolly at the Bendigo Amateur Boxing Club in California Gully.
"Pat, and now Lynden, have helped me so much."
Jones captured a third state title last year and is determined to do well against the country's best.
He said being with a trainer of Hosking's experience gained from Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and at national titles was a massive plus.
The nationals will be the first tournament Jones has competed at this year.
"It's been a few month since Ewen fought, but the four bouts he had late last year were all against quality opponents and top contests," Hosking said.
A major focus for the duo is on professionalism and preparation.
"Ewen has a great skill-set and that's through the work with Pat Connolly over many years," Hosking said.
"A lot of what I've done with Ewen is on work ethic, and capitalising on his strengths. He has great reach, can use his height well, and hits extremely hard."
Jones and Hosking will head west on Sunday and then be ready for the weigh-in and draw on Monday.
The first contest for Jones will be on Tuesday.
"At this stage it's likely to be at least three contests to determine the championship," Hosking said.
Being at big-time tournaments is nothing new for Hosking, a winner of six national titles.
Biggest highlights of his career were the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Later this year it may be Jones bound for Glasgow to represent Australia.