Amiet marks boxing first for Bendigo

JOCELYN Amiet will mark an historic moment for the Bendigo Amateur Boxing Club at this Sunday’s start to the Victorian Amateur Boxing Association championships at the Reggio Calabria Club in Brunswick.Amiet, 21, is the first female to compete for the California Gully-based BABC and long-time trainer Pat Connolly.The club also has Ewen Jones, elite 75kg, and Steve Kanthyiong, elite 60kg, warming up for another state titles campaign.The build-up for Amiet’s contest in the female 54kg division included sparring with WBF champion Susie Ramadan in Melbourne.“Jocelyn has trained really well, not just the past few months, but since she began about 18 months ago,” Connolly said.“The sparring with Susie Ramadan was an excellent workout.“Jocelyn was not daunted by the test and moved well,” Connolly said.He said Amiet’s strengths included her ability to throw combination punches in quick succession and determination to succeed.A long-term goal is for Amiet to compete at the 2012 London Olympics when women’s boxing will be on the card for the first time.A multiple state titleholder, Jones is back living, working and training in Bendigo.“This preparation is one of best Ewen has had. “He is looking really sharp in training and in sparring.”Quick hands and heavy strikes are hallmarks of Jones’ victories.Khanthiyong moves up a division to 60kg.“Steve’s record of seven bouts includes facing two Australian champions. Although he was beaten, he boxed really well and learnt a lot from the experience.”Weigh-in will be between 8am and 10am, with the draw from 11am. First bout to be contested across 10 divisions will be at 1pm. Finals are set down for Sunday, November 21, at Brunswick.