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RISING Bendigo boxing star Jake May has set his sights on a national Open Golden Gloves crown.
The 15-year-old will venture to Brisbane next month to take on the best fighters in his light flyweight (48-50kg) division.
May, a dual Victorian 48kg amateur champion, warmed up for the Golden Gloves with a class win over national 44-46kg silver medallist Bilahal Dejede on a Boxing Victoria program in Melbourne on Sunday.
It was as complete a performance delivered by May, according to one of his trainers Gary Austin, possibly eclipsing his two state championship wins and silver medal effort at this year's national championships in Adelaide.
Austin, who assumed the ringside duties in the absence of head trainer Frank Pianto, said Jake had won all three rounds convincingly.
"They scored all three rounds 10-9, but they could easily have been scored 10-8 .... one or two of them could have been 10-8," he said.
"Jake has really gone to another level (since the national championships).
"He's gone from being a Victorian champion to the elite level and among the best in Australia.
"He's stepped up to 48kg and will probably go up again in weight towards the end of next year, but I see no problems with him rising through the classes."
In decades of training boxers in gyms across Bendigo, Austin said May was easily one of the most coachable and disciplined fighters he had worked with.
"I have kids with more talent, but they are no longer doing it," he said.
"Jake is still listening and he's learning from other people's mistakes.
"There's no chance of Jake ever getting ahead of himself - what I like about him is he is so grounded."
May, who has been boxing for a little over two years, said he was naturally looking forward to his his next challenge at the Golden Gloves after his tricky fight against Dejede.
"He and I were friends down at the nationals, I went to his gym a few times and trained with him," he said.
"I have had a couple instances of sinus problems and getting the flu along the way, but I'm slowly coming back to where I want to be.
"Golden Gloves will be an awesome four-day tournament, I'm really looking forward to showing what I've got.
"I'll fight all four days, which will teach me how to back things up."
May said he was grateful for the continued support of Austin and Pianto, who missed the Melbourne fight while completing his International Boxing Association (AIBA) Star 1 international coaching accreditation.
The qualification will enable the long-time Bendigo trainer and promoter, who operates his gym in Kangaroo Flat, to be involved with national teams as an assistant.
The Golden Gloves tournament will be staged at the Mount Gravatt Youth and Recreation Club from August 24-27.