Vietnamese eager to learn the ropes
BOXING: Toowoomba’s reputation in international circles as a showpiece boxing centre has received another huge tick with Vietnam about to use the city as a blueprint for its entry into the sport.
Vietnam is looking to develop professional boxing as a high-profile sport in its 95-million population nation and members of the recently formed Vietnam Boxing Council will visit Toowoomba early next month on an observation and fact-finding tour.
Their centre of attention will be Smithy’s TGW Gym where they will liaise with Brendon Smith, looking to tap into the boxing knowledge and experience of the long-time trainerpromoter.
The Vietnamese will be completing a boxing industry course run by Australian National Boxing Federation directors Andrew Campbell and Derek Milham.
The course is a complete coverage of the boxing industry.
The Vietnamese government is supporting the group of trainees as a large part of the foundation for the introduction of professional boxing in their country.
Milham said Smith’s strong international boxing background made him an ideal sounding board for the Vietnamese.
“The ANBF is delighted to have the support of Brendon Smith and his team,” Milham said.
“The TGW team has an impressive record in international relations, going back to when Toowoomba boxers travelled to South Africa to compete virtually one day after apartheid was abolished.
“Also the Toowoombabased team was virtually the first in Australia to break into the huge Chinese market and recently hosted the Canadian Commonwealth games boxing team.
“With an international relationship background like that the ANBF certainly appreciates the TGW team’s support.”
Smith said he was honoured to have been chosen to assist the Vietnamese delegation in what was another plus for Toowoomba boxing.
He also sees the working partnership as a likely forerunner to closer sporting ties between Toowoomba and Vietnam once its pro-boxing ranks begin to take shape.
“It’s an honour to have the Vietnamese contingent coming here and I’m looking forward to working with them as they look to build professional boxing in their country,” Smith said this week.
“The potential for forming close ties with them is enormous and hopefully in the future we can build a relationship similar to the excellent one we share with China and their highly respected promoter Liu Gang.
“The Vietnamese visitors will be closely involved as onlookers during the week of our next boxing show on November 3.
“They’ll be attending our press conferences and weighins and will get a close-up look at the preparation of our boxers before attending the fight night at Rumours.”
IT’S AN HONOUR TO HAVE THE VIETNAMESE CONTINGENT COMING HERE. BRENDON SMITH