NZ amateur makes major impression
willing to back Morgan for the boilover.
A former Commonwealth Games representative who now holds a 21-1 record in the professional ranks, Morgan is not worried about being written off in Australia.
‘‘They can think whatever they want to think,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t look at what people are saying or whatever, I just don’t get into that.
‘‘I’m just so focussed on what I’m doing and where I’m at.’’
So what are the chances of upsetting the unbeaten prodigy who hopes to emulate the success of his famous father?
As one respected Kiwi boxing brain told Stuff ahead of the blockbuster card that also features Mark Hunt against league hardman turned pugilist Paul Gallen: ‘‘Boxing has a long history of upsets that most
Bowyn Morgan
people never thought possible, but they do happen, and they become the most famous nights in the sport.’’
When Morgan walks out to a crowd, expected to be the biggest any individual Kiwi sportsman will perform in front of in 2020, he’s adamant he won’t be a deer caught in the headlights, despite it being easily the biggest stage of his career.
‘‘I’m not going to stop and take it all in . . . why?
‘‘My job is to get in there and inflict pain on Tim Tszyu . . . not to soak in all the atmosphere. I’m there to win, not be a part of it.’’
Regardless of what is happening outside the ring, there’s only himself, Tszyu and a referee in there, he said.
Morgan’s not overly fussed with all the hype and hoopla – the sooner the fight comes around the better and the quicker he can get home to daughters Phoenix, Esmay and Aaliyah and partner Ruby, who he won’t see for almost a month due to an isolation voucher hiccup.
Morgan’s army of supporters are backing him to win but the two people who believe the most, are in his eyes, the most important.
Himself and long-time trainer Phil Shatford.
‘‘We’ve been through a lot together, me and Phil,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘We’ve travelled the world together as amateurs, and he was right beside me through all of that and now we’re here, facing our biggest test together.’’
The pair have spent countless hours grafting, grinding, studying and perfecting technique in a humble concrete block gym in the far west corner of Addington Raceway.
It’s not much bigger than the average living room and a world away from the glitzy Team Tszyu 2.0 gym that belongs to Morgan’s opponent in Rockdale on the southern outskirts of Sydney.
It’s not his usual go but Morgan reluctantly admits his mind has wandered off on those early morning road runs, thinking about what the vision, smell and taste of a victory over Tszyu might be like.
‘‘The whole journey, what it looks like to have my hand raised and even just going into isolation as the winner.
‘‘How satisfying would that be?’’
Amelia Garvey has reassessed her goals and is daring to dream after making an impressive start to her major debut at the US Women’s Open.
Competing as an amateur at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Garvey carded one-under par 70 in the first round to sit only three shots behind leader Amy Olson.
The American stole the show after sinking a superb hole in one on the par-three 16th. However, after making four birdies to offset bogeys on the third, eighth and 11th holes, Garvey has a spring in her step as the 20-year-old Cantabrian showed she was not overawed by the occasion.
‘‘I mean, I’m not just here to make the cut now,’’ Garvey said. ‘‘I’ve put a good number up. I’m only three shots behind. Eyes on the prize, I guess.
‘‘Three shots is nothing in this game, especially with three rounds to play. I’m not trying to get ahead of myself or anything, but I’ve just sat down with my caddie and the first goal is to make the weekend.’’
It was a stressful start to the day – Garvey’s caddie had to rush to the course at 5.30am (local time) to fix a broken putter. ‘‘We get everything in 2020, don’t we?’’ she said.
‘‘I’m there to win, not be a part of it.’’
But there was little sign of nerves as Garvey birdied her opening hole, as well as making birdies on the seventh, 15th and 16th, to finish in a tie for 12th.
Nipping at Garvey’s heels was fellow Kiwi and former world No 1 Lydia Ko, who finished on even par.
The pair shared a practice round on Wednesday, which Garvey said did wonders for her confidence.
‘‘The last time I sort of played with her was when I did the Lydia Ko scholarship before I went off to college, so she was just telling me how my game is there, I just need to back myself really,’’ Garvey said.
Ko’s first round was more erratic. She hit three birdies, one eagle, three bogies and one double bogey but did enough to stay in contention in a congested field.
‘‘I thought I hit the ball pretty well,’’ Ko said. ‘‘I drove one in the water, too, but I had a couple threeputts but led to a few unnecessary bogeys or doubles in that case.
‘‘The greens are rolling pretty good, so I think I need to work on a little bit of speed work.’’
Meanwhile, Olson is chasing her first major success and is the outright leader after shooting a fourunder 67. Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, South Korean A Lim Kim and Filipino Yuka Saso are tied for second on three-under.