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HE’S still two months shy of his 16th birthday, but that has not stopped Jake May from becoming a three-time state boxing champion.
The Bendigo fighter claimed his third Victorian 48kg championship, with a win over Bilahal Dejede at the Reggio Calabria Club in Melbourne on Sunday.
It has earned May a second crack at the national championships, to be staged next month in Perth.
The teenager won a silver medal at last year’s championships in Adelaide.
May’s trainer Frank Pianto said it was the best performance he had seen from his young boxer.
“His opponent won the (46kg junior) silver medal at the Australian championships last year and to be able to dominate someone like him and out box him is just sensational,” he said.
“To win three consecutive state titles is a pretty amazing achievement for a young person.
“It’s very hard to keep kids his age in this sport, so to keep persisting, it’s an incredible feat.”
Pianto said May would enter the Australian championships a far more confident boxer than in 2017.
“Absolutely … he’s a top-age junior now; last year he was bottom age,” he said.
“We will go in with a lot more experience.
“Last year he fought a three-time national champion and to lose a split decision was incredible.
“Those guys have obviously gone up in age and moved decisions, so to be a top age at 48kg sets him up nicely.
“Jake is going to be bigger, stronger and obviously more experienced than last year. I am rating him ads a really good chance.”
His third state title win capped a huge 12 months for the 15-year-old, whose wins included a National Golden Gloves title win in Brisbane last July.
Sunday’s win was May’s second against Dejede, with the first coming in the lead-up to the 2017 Golden Gloves.
With May facing a pricey travel bill to Perth, Pianto was hoping to secure some form of sponsorship for his young fighter.
Anyone interested should contact Frank Pianto on 0401 306 308.
