WHEN Nambucca’s Mitchell Whitelaw threw his first jab in anger in 18 months, he agonised: “Gee, that’s slow”.
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Fortunately, it didn’t take the lithe young boxer long to shake the rust and find his timing and range in a bout against Asher Wolff at a NSW Amateur Boxing League promotion at Kingscliff.
Mitchell was coming off a long break from the ring, while Mt Tarampa’s Asher was primed off a busy schedule including a last up bout where he snared a Queensland State title.
Asher’s fight with Mitchell, who again was prepared by Nambucca trainer Ian ‘Sparra’ Stapleton, was originally to be for a belt. But some last gasp shuffling saw the contest reduced from four rounds to three, with little up for grabs aside from glory.
If Asher’s camp were wary about the size of the fight in the 78kg Mitchell, it proved with good reason.
At his peak, the Nambucca teen is a delight to watch - great defence and the ability to unleash precision combinations with withering speed.
Midway through the second round and after a standing eight count, Asher’s corner said enough - giving the win to Mitchell by TKO.
“I slipped in a big right and saw his legs sag, then worked him over with body and head shots,” Mitchell told the Guardian of the final moments.
Trainer Sparra said he knew his charge would give a good account as while he hadn’t seen competition after an extended lay-off, Mitchell had been training the gym down in his run to a return.
“My only concern was that he hadn’t had any real top notch sparring, but I knew fitness wouldn’t be a problem as he’d been working with me three days a week and training two days a week with footy,” Sparra said.
Mitchell’s days in the amateur ranks are numbered as he’s eyeing turning professional to see how far he can go in the sport.
Sparra also took Dorrigo’s Danny Beverly with him to Kingscliff, in what was his final fight as an amateur before turning pro.
Beverly was up against Inverell man mountain Johnny Berger, and Sparra said he was giving away a good foot in height and at least three kilograms.
Berger took the first of the three rounds and Sparra said Danny was unhurt but not hopeful.
“He said ‘he’s just too big’,” Sparra said, “but I told him to just stick with it and get busier.”
“From there he boxed beautifully and absolutely controlled the second round. He took the third as well, though not as easily, and won on unanimous points.”
Sparra said he has a number of boxers in heavy work, and the new season calendar is due for release any day. At this stage, he’s hoping to run a boxing promotion in Nambucca in September or October.