Charlotte fights for cancer awareness
The death of boxer Neville Knight has not put Charlotte Goodall off appearing in a charity fight.
The issue of safety has been in the spotlight since the 49-year-old collapsed and died during a charity bout in Hamilton.
Respected referee Keith Walker subsequently called for a ban on corporate and charity boxing. Goodall, who works as a personal trainer, is fighting in Upper Hutt to raise money for breast cancer research.
Prior to Knights’s death, Goodall said she was not worried about her own safety and was confident the organisers had done everything possible to reduce the risk. ’’With anything you do there is always a risk.’’
After Knight’s death, she said her position had not changed.
‘‘What happened over the weekend does not change my view about stepping into the ring.’’
So why has she put herself through months of hard training to risk getting beaten up?
Her father, Graeme, died of cancer and a cousin, Simone, is battling the disease. In recent months a number of friends had been diagnosed and she believed we all need to be much more aware of cancer and its impact on the community.
‘‘I figure the treatment for cancer patients is worse than taking a temporary hit to the head.’’
Although she was very fit, training was an eye opener for Goodall who teaches up to 20 classes a week.
‘‘I can do back-to-back classes but three minutes of sparring and I am thinking ‘when is this over’...this is the toughest fitness challenge I have ever done.’’
Goodall, who is known as Charlie, is coached by Grant Toatoa who has fought professionally. She is confident she is as well prepared as possible. One person who will not be watching, however, is her mother.
‘‘My mum said ‘oh, no I am proud of you for stepping into the ring but there are other ways to raise money’.’’
Elite Sports is running the Upper Hutt event which will feature 14 bouts on October 15.
It is a fund raiser for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and spokesman Arthur Tauaifaiga said safety was the number one priority. Fighters were matched equally by weight, age and experience. They are checked by a doctor on the night and wear protective head gear.
‘‘It is not just about bums on seats, it is all about safety for us.’’