BENDIGO boxer Jake May is now a Golden Gloves champion in two countries after winning his international debut bout last weekend.
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The 16-year-old continued his rise in the sport by winning the 52kg Junior Open division at New Zealand’s Golden Gloves Championships.
May defeated fellow Australian Lachie Lewis in a split decision to add another victory to his career.
“It was Jake’s first international tournament and the second biggest tournament in New Zealand behind the national titles, so it was a big event,” May’s trainer, Frank Pianto, said on Wednesday.
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“We went over to fight in the 50kg Junior Open division, but there wasn’t an opponent, so we had to step up to 52kg against Lachie Lewis, who is the current Australian champion.
“It was a really good bout that we ended up winning on a split decision.”
The bout was fought over three two-minute rounds, with the victory improving May’s career record to 7-5.
As well as his Golden Gloves win in New Zealand last weekend, May is also the 48kg Australian Golden Gloves champion, winning that title in Brisbane last year.
“It’s a great effort for Jake to have two Golden Gloves titles in two different countries, which is on top of him winning a silver medal at this year’s Australian National Titles… the kid’s on fire at the moment,” Pianto said.
Pianto has been training May at the Pianto Boxing Academy for the past three years, with his build-up to his New Zealand trip including regular sparring sessions with Danny Taggart, a former Victorian Amateur Boxing League title-holder in the 60kg class.
May’s preparation also included sparring against Tyler Harrington, who will represent Australia in the 49kg division at the Oceania Youth Championships later this year.
“That was only his 12th bout, so he doesn’t have a lot of experience, but he’s phenomenal for someone who has only had that amount of fights,” Pianto said.
“He’s fighting opponents who have had 60-70 bouts, so it’s fantastic what he’s doing.”
May’s boxing accolades also include three state titles.
“He’s defensively very good and has a high work-rate,” Pianto said.
“He’s quite a tall boxer for his weight and you’d expect him to box from long-range, but he can box on the inside quite well also.
“There’s no doubt if he stays in the sport he has the capacity to go a long way… hopefully, in the next 18 months or so he’ll get an opportunity to represent his country if he keeps working hard.”
Next on the horizon for May is a two-day tournament in Sydney in July.
