EMERGING Bendigo boxer Jake May will challenge for his second state amateur title in Melbourne this Saturday.
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May, the reigning Victorian 46 kilogram junior champion, will step up to the 48 kilogram division when he steps into the ring against Nick Marinos at the Reggio Calabria Club in Brunswick.
Marinos is a familiar foe for May.
The 14-year-old defeated Marinos at last year's Victorian Under-age Championships to claim his first title.
His trainer Frank Pianto said May's preparation had gone extremely well having attended state training camps in South Australia and Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in recent weeks.
"He's obviously already the reigning Victorian junior champion at 46 kilograms, but there wasn't anyone in his weight division this time round," he said.
"Jake's had to step up to the 48 kilogram division, but is hoping to go back-to-back.
"He's looking good. These Victorian titles are a selection event for Australian titles held in Adelaide in April, which is where we'd like to get to."
May has been training at the Kangaroo Flat-based Pianto Boxing Academy for less than two years.
He has two wins in total over Marinos from as many bouts, but is expecting his toughest challenge yet from his Melbourne opponent.