'Nine minutes to London' for four NZ boxers

Gage Brown, Chad Milnes, Bowyn Morgan and David Light are a tantalising nine minutes - or less - away from boxing for New Zealand at the London Olympics after advancing to their finals at the Oceania qualifying tournament in Canberra today.

Boxing New Zealand's hopes of sending representatives to the Olympics for the first time since Soulan Pownceby fought at Athens in 2004 supposedly diminished when leading contenders Joe Blackbourn and Joseph Parker were well beaten in their quarterfinals on Wednesday.

But the quartet dragged New Zealand's reputation off the canvas at the Australian Institute of Sport by securing narrow, emphatic and occasionally surprising victories during a dramatic session.

BNZ board member Keith Walker was pessimistic before the programme got underway and was delighted to be proved wrong.

"It was very successful. It's now nine minutes to London," he enthused, looking forward to Sunday's finals.

Morgan's success over Joseph Deireragea from Nauru was especially sweet after he was unable to qualify at last year's world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, because he could not secure funding to make the trip.

A top-eight finish in that tournament would have won an Olympic spot but instead Morgan had to target winning the Oceania title.

After receiving a bye into the semifinals of the 69kg division, he was dominant throughout the three round contest to claim a 15-8 point's decision.

He fights Cameron Hammond for the Games berth after the Australian beat Henry Tyrell of Samoa 16-2.

"Bowyn's made the most of his chances, now's he got a particularly elusive opponent. He's going to have to be at his best, no doubt," Walker said.

Morgan was considered a potential finalist but Gage and Milnes, who also had byes through to their semifinals, were not expected to be in contention in their weight categories.

Gage, the first of five New Zealand fighters in action, pummelled Tongan Mateaki Taumalolo in the first semifinal of the 56kg division, winning each of the three rounds comfortably to win 28-10.

He now has to overcome Australian Ibrahim Balla who was similarly impressive in eliminating Kaisa Ioane (Samoa) 21-9.

Milnes then exceeded expectations by claiming a narrow 14-13 decision against Lomalito Moala, a bronze medal winner for Tonga at the Delhi Commonwealth Games two years ago, to make the 60kg final.

An Australian also blocks his path to London after Luke Jackson defeated Nauru's Colan Caleb 15-6.

"They were both upsets as far as I'm concerned. Those boys have had very little experience internationally," Walker said.

"You could see the other two coaches were quite surprised."

Unfortunately, Harry Scaife could not maintain New Zealand's perfect record when he was stopped in the third round by Australian Jeff Horn, the 2011 Arafura Games gold medallist and pre-tournament favourite to claim the 64kg berth.

National amateur heavyweight champion David Light ensured the New Zealanders finished with a flourish when a second round barrage was enough to halt his 91kg clash with Nauru's Tarieta Ruata.

Light's reward in a showdown with Jai Opetaia after the Australian needed less than a round to knock Cook Islander Mokopuna Nooroa out of the tournament.

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6629440/Nine-minutes-to-London-for-four-NZ-boxers

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