BARRY Nilsson’s boxing gym will enter the spotlight this weekend when Mount Gambier hosts the SA v Vic Border Challenge tonight.
The event has been in the pipeline for some time and Nilsson organised it himself, with a strong representation of his own fighters on display.
At the time of print Nilsson expected 15 bouts at the challenge, with a couple of fights yet to be confirmed, including a women’s event.
A highlight of the night will be 18 year old Riley Wiese, who will fight for a state challenge in the 63kg division.
Wiese is a two-time state champion out of Nilsson’s gym and will look to make his record four wins, two losses when he takes to the ring for his sixth career fight.
“I am fighting a bloke who has had one more fight than me so it should be a good fight hopefully,” he said.
Vahahn Schofield is another of Nilsson’s more experienced fighters, despite being just 15 years old.
He will contest his eighth fight against a Victorian in a battle for state bragging rights in the 54kg.
Tonight’s event will also see several boxers step into the ring for the first time, with Jay Ropitini, Liam Whitty and Jake Brown all making their debut.
Brenton Davies hopes to join them as well, but is waiting for his fight to be confirmed.
All of them are eager to enter the ring and are excited to put themselves to the test after training hard in the lead up to the challenge.
“I said to Stump (Nilsson) at the start of the year, ‘can you get us a fight’,” Ropitini said.
“He said I have to put in the training first and I have been putting in the hard yards.
“I have been at the gym on and off over six months and the last two months I have been training really hard.”
Ropitini will fight at light-heavyweight (81kg) and said he was nervous, but confident for tonight.
Whitty also has about six months of training under his belt heading into the weekend.
“I have been with the gym about a year,” he said.
“I started training about six months ago, but went off during footy season.
“I have just come back about six weeks ago and have been training hard to get in shape.”
The 18 year old will fight an older fighter, aged 24, but hopes that will not be a disadvantage.
He does not know much else about his opponent, nor do his teammates.
Brown will contest the middleweight 75kg class and said he is feeling “pretty good” heading into his first fight.
He does not know anything about his opposition and wants to keep it that way until he steps into the ring.
“I have just tried to avoid it – if I go stalking him on Facebook I’ll start doubting myself,” he said.
After months of work, Nilsson looks forward to this weekend and hopes to put on a good show for Mount Gambier boxing fans.
The event will be held in a marquee in the Jens Hotel carpark.
“Boxing will start after 6.30pm and will have 15 bouts on the program at this stage,” Nilsson said.
He said 15 is a good number, especially considering the time of year, where many boxers are starting to finish up.
“The Australian elite titles are on in Melbourne as well, so that took away a lot of good boxers,” Nilsson said.
“There will be a lot of intermediate, a few open and a few novice boxers.
“We have about five gyms from Melbourne coming over with their boys.”
With state bragging rights on the line, Nilsson expects a top show of quality fights.
“All my guys are ready to go – they are pumped,” he said.
“It is a great experience fighting in your home town.
“It is going to be a big night and there will be some quality boxing on show.”
