Victory a testament to skill and faith
Nelson teenager Te Iwingaro Douglas Hall has finished top of an impressive pool of boxers to win gold at the South Island Golden Gloves boxing championships in Christchurch.
Hall defeated Christchurch fighter Jeremy Gargett, who he had lost to in the past, earlier this month to come away with the spoils.
Hall, 16, who fights in the 80kg and over junior category, is coached by his proud father Dion Hall, boxing coach at the Whakatu HQ gym. He trains from Victory Boxing on Vanguard St.
Hall said emotions had been running high heading into the fight against Gargett, but he was able to overcome these as soon as he stepped into the ring.
‘‘I was really nervous. I’d been thinking a lot about it all of the week before, and I kept asking my Dad what I needed to work on if I was going to beat this guy.
‘‘As soon as I got punched, I was in my zone.’’
Dion Hall said his son showed real toughness throughout the fight to eventually prove he was a cut above his opponent.
‘‘I said, ‘Look, you’re big and you’re strong and you can do it, just have a bit of faith in yourself’.
‘‘Just to see him beat a guy that beat him previously, it’s good to see him have a bit more faith in himself and see him grow.’’
The young fighter said the feeling he had after winning was second to none.
‘‘It was so amazing. As soon as they lifted my hand, I was just so happy. Just being able to beat him was amazing.’’
Hall said he now had his sights set on the national age group boxing championships coming up next year.
‘‘I’ll keep working to get up to that level, and do my best when I get there. Dad’s always making me train a lot harder and harder.’’
He was nothing but positive about being coached by his father.
‘‘He’s always got my back, he’s always helping me improve heaps. I listen to him a lot more because he’s my Dad.
‘‘He’s really supportive, and the same with my Mum, they’re both really supportive of my boxing.’’
‘‘As soon as they lifted my hand, I was just so happy.’’
Te Iwingaro Douglas Hall