PERTH boxer Brandon Rees (20) will be throwing punches for Australia in a trans-Tasman bout in New Zealand next weekend.
The apprentice refrigeration technician trains with coach Sean Nash, who owns Nashy’s Boxing Club in Wangara.
Nash said Rees won his first state title as a youth boxer in 2015 then won the national championships later that year after six bouts.
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READ NOW“He competed as an elite boxer through 2016 learning and boxing all over Australia and New Zealand representing WA,” Nash said.
“This year has been very busy beating every heavyweight in the country except for the number 1 and number 2, then in last month’s Commonwealth Games trials he managed to beat the number 2 in the country in the quarters.”
Nash said the Bull Creek boxer also won his semi final against another top performer and gave his “best performance yet” in the final against the Australian number 1 veteran and Olympian Jason Whateley, narrowly losing the bout.
“His performance has scored him a berth on the Australian national team to compete in the upcoming Trans Tasman Cup in Auckland,” he said.
Rees said he felt good ahead of the December 9 International Boxing Battle, where he will face New Zealand’s David Nyika, who is currently ranked 8th in the world.
“He is a beast,” Rees said.
“I’m excited – I feel like I’ve worked really hard to deserve a chance to represent Australia.
“That’s been my goal since I started.”
Rees said he started boxing about five years ago to keep fit for football, but enjoyed it so much he dropped the ball sport and focused on throwing punches.
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