Lads take a swing at fly-ins
Boxing Queensland brings teenage fighters to NQ
WHEN he steps into the ring, Sonny Lindgren feels at home.
He has been fighting since he could put on gloves, training side-by-side with his dad Johnny at their Mount Low gym.
Together they have forged a reputation as a dynamic father-son boxing combination.
But the 11-year-old needed a challenge, having fended off every opponent put in front of him in North Queensland.
It is the same story for his sparring partner, Sonny Prasser, 13 – the pair have reached a stage where they can only get better by pushing themselves against fighters from other cities.
That will come to the fore tomorrow night at Brothers Leagues Club, when Boxing Queensland flies 16 teenagers from the state’s southeast corner to Townsville for a night in the ring.
Sonny Lindgren will be taking on Bailey Gioris, who comes from Brisbane’s famed All Stars Boxing gym.
It may be the biggest challenge of his time as a boxer, but there are no nerves in the determined pugilist.
“I’ve been doing exhibitions since I was eight and ever since I stepped into that ring I couldn’t stop – I loved it,” Sonny said.
“You have to be fit and you have to be committed, and that’s the sort of person I am.
“I’m not nervous, I like to fight. When I step into that ring I’m at home, it’s some
where I belong. That extra challenge helps me realise my potential, and makes me work extra hard so I can put that extra 5 or 10 per cent into the fight.”
For Sonny Prasser, his Saturday bout can be one of redemption.
His maiden appearance was against his upcoming rival, Tom Allen, but he has since come a long way in rapid time.
On his home turf, in his own ring, he said this time would be different.
“I feel like I’m going to win if I come out hard … he won, but I’m going to go out harder,” Prasser said.
“Now I can come back harder and better, this time I’m going to throw way more punches and get on top of him.”
Lindgren senior sees great talent in his up-and-coming
prodigies – the duo’s athleticism in the ring offset by mild-mannered demeanours away from the fight.
He said he wanted his fighters to grow in character with each round. “I’ve already said to my son he’s already surpassed my start. I lost my third fight, he’s won three in a row. As long as he gives it his best go it doesn’t matter, sometimes (losing is) the best way to learn.”