Just 30 days to go until I board the flight from Auckland on July 13, on the way to the Caribbean for the VI Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas capital, Nassau, from 18-27 July 2017. #BahamasCYG2017 #boxing
I faced a strong and experienced opponent at the 2017 New Zealand North Island Golden Gloves, It was a tough bout, but I pulled through and came away with the result I was looking for. Thank you to my coach Rusty Porter, and also to Cam Todd and Rakai Kirkwood for helping out in the corner. Thank you to Fili Maka and Wellsford boxing for all your help. Finally, thank you to every single one of my supporters. My big goal for 2017 is still to come, and that is to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Any support to help me get to the games would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I'll have the pleasure of facing a top European boxer at the North Island Golden Gloves next weekend in Taupo. Szilard Laszlo is a 17yo Hungarian boxing champion and 2015 Junior World Championships Bronze medallist. As only Szilard and I are entered in the 75kg Male Youth Open Division (at this stage) it will probably go to a straight final on Sunday 4th June afternoon/evening. Can't wait!
I recently traveled to Perth, Western Australia with the Auckland Boxing Team, to participate in the WA - NZ Trans-Tasman Cup Tournament. On 20th May, in the 75kg Open Division, I took on Michael Martino, a 21-year-old experienced Australian boxer and won the bout by Unanimous Points Decision.
I've been training with the A-Team today, at Auckland Boxing Team training in Wellsford. Here I'm with Tui Vea and Pelea Fruean who have also been selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games 2017 in Bahamas. Pelea is with the NZ team, while Tui has been selected to represent Tonga. So, we are all good! :)
The last (and first!) time I represented New Zealand was at the 2015 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships, in St. Petersburg, Russia. This, my first bout, was against the Romanian 66kg champ. It was just my 19th bout ever, so I was still quite inexperienced, but I got the win and moved on to the round of 16.
Since today, I have a profile page on the New Zealand Olympic website! :) See http://www.nzoc.co.nz/athletes/kyle-chen/
