Boxers win national medals

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
THE Yarra Valley brought home a gold and silver Australian boxing title last weekend.
Two Yarra Valley boxers competed in the Australian Amateur Boxing Titles in Hobart, which started on Thursday 25 November and was fought over three days.
Healesville teenager Pat Connell made it through the eliminations and fought Oscar Smith from New South Wales in the title bout on Friday 26 November.
Lilydale Youth Club boxing trainer Nick Lundh said Smith was a more experienced fighter than Connell, having had more than 20 fights, but Connell managed to dominate the fight winning a unanimous points decision to become the Australian middle weight champion.
Mr Lundh said Connell would also be fighting on 4 December at the Lilydale Youth Club against a fellow Victorian who also won gold at the Australian titles in the super middle weight division, Rocco Prochilo from Broadmeadows.
“This will be a classic fight and if Pat wins this fight he will definitely be the undisputed best middle weight in Australia,” he said.
Nishal Wimalawansa also performed exceptionally well at the titles.
Wimalawansa made it through the eliminations to fight Queenslander Shane Thomas in the Australian lightweight title.
Mr Lundh said Thomas had more than 50 fights, and this was Wimalawansa’s sixth boxing fight.
“It was a close fight with the decision going to the Queenslander.
“Nishal fought well gaining a silver medal at the Australian titles,” he said.