MOUNT Gambier sports people – in particular women in sport – will be treated to something special this weekend when a bantamweight world champion boxer comes to town.
Dwyer’s Boxing Club’s Sam Dwyer is brining the well-known boxer to the city to help promote women in sport.
The New Zealand born Warrnambool fighter Cherneka “Sugar” Neekz Johnson won her world title last month and will head to the Blue Lake city to hold workshops and put on a demonstration of boxing.
The idea came from Dwyer’s Boxing Club’s Sam Dwyer, who has links to Johnson through his time at university in Warrnambool.
He said he simply wanted to bring her across to Mount Gambier to help promote women in sport.
“When you look at the local women’s football league, plus we have been getting quite a few female boxers through the gym, it is just about promoting women in sport,” he said.
“I think Neekz is just very passionate about women in sport and promoting that.
“Also being the world champion and being so close in Warrnambool, I think she has been intending to come across and meet some people over here.
“If she can be an inspiration to a few of the younger girls, I think that is what she is aiming for.”
The classes will run at Dwyer’s gym from 9am Sunday morning, with numbers attending to determine the time spent there, before the demonstrations kick off in a ring set up at the Western Tavern.
“In the morning she will work with some junior boxers and local sports organisations – particularly women’s sports organisations,” Dwyer said.
“She will run some boxing classes free of charge and we will do some training.
“From 3.30pm in the afternoon we will have an exhibition at the Western Tavern where she will do some pad work and get in the ring with the Under 19 Australian champion.
“I will get in there as well with one of the pros from Warrnambool and we will answer some questions, meet and greet and sign some things.”
A small fee will be charged for those attending the demonstrations over 16 years of age, which Dwyer said would go to a local women’s sporting organisation to be decided on the day.
