NAMBUCCA blaster Mitchel Stapleton secured a confidence boosting win over an arch rival and is now eyeing a big-time amateur bout for the NSW Welterweight title in Sydney.
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The powerhouse 18-year-old faced his nemesis, Johnny Robinson, at Kingscliff – who defeated Mitchel at the national titles in Cairns.
But the tables were well and truly turned in the rematch which went the distance over four rounds.
“Mitch stole every round and while he wasn’t super-fit after a two-month break, he was able to throw six punch combos with four or five of them landing clean,” Mitchel’s trainer and father, Ian ‘Sparra’ Stapleton said.
The points decision was the perfect springboard for Mitchel who will now face State titleholder Ty Telford at the Whitlam Centre at Liverpool on July 29.
Watch Mitchel getting ready for the title fight:
Then on August 5, he will meet Sydney’s Kobie Duncan at Casino.
“He fought Kobie at the nationals and we expect that it’s going to be another real hard fight,” Sparra said.
With an amateur record of 26 wins, 19 losses and two draws, Mitchel will step through the ropes again on August 19 at Evans Head – against Armidale’s undefeated Lindsay Frizell – in what looms as his last fight before turning professional.
Two other boxers from Sparra’s gym at Nambucca Heads have also tasted recent success, with Rhys Ferguson, 16, having an exhibition bout with 34-year-old Mick McAndrews at Murwillumbah.
“Mick told Rhys to ‘hit me as hard as you can’ and Rhys went him over three rounds. His defence was great and I reckon he has a big future,” Sparra said.
See Rhys training with Sparra:
Nambucca’s Jay Melrose, 26, was also on the card at Kingscliffe, stopping his opponent in quick order as the towel went in shortly after a standing eight count.
Sparra said he is planning to enter Rhys and Jay in the Novice National Titles at Wyong Leagues Club on July 7-8.
