NZ boxers in line to get medals

Four New Zealand boxers are guaranteed at least Commonwealth Games bronze medals.

None, however, will be content to settle there.

New Zealand’s leading gold medal hope, David Nyika, received a free pass through his quarterfinal after Cameroon’s Christian Ndzie Tsoye failed to turn up at the weigh-in yesterday.

Gold medallist in the light heavyweight division in Glasgow, Nyika is attempting to repeat that success after moving up to the 91kg ranks. His next step comes in Friday’s semifinal.

Alexis Pritchard secured her first Games medal in the 57kg division. The 34-year-old, who emerged from retirement for these Games, now faces a grudge fight with Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh.

At a pre-Games camp in Canberra, Walsh is said to have lost her temper when sparring with Pritchard, throwing the Kiwi to the floor and carrying on her outburst in an ugly incident.

“It will be a fun fight with the Irish girl; she is passionate, I’m passionate,” Pritchard said. “I’m guaranteed a bronze medal but I’ll be fighting every moment in these finals to change the colour.”

Walsh stopped Botswana’s Keamogetse Kenosi in her quarterfinal and is determined to knock out Pritchard on Friday.

“I’m here for one colour only and I’ll do anything to get there,” Walsh said. “We’ve sparred each other but that means nothing; sparring is not fighting and this will be a fight.

“I wish her all the best but I’ve got my life in this and I believe I’m going all the way.”

Tasmyn Benny, the tenacious 19-year-old competing in the women’s 48kg ranks, is also through to the final four where she meets Northern Ireland’s Kristina O’Hara today.

Leroy Hindley (69kg) lost his quarter-final late last night, but super heavyweight Patrick Mailata guaranteed himself a medal with a victory.