Sparring partners aid veteran’s win
Denning Boxing Gym amateur fighter Karen Nicholls believes sparring with younger male boxers prepared her for two technical knockout victories at the Olden Gloves event in Queensland held from November 24-26.
The 50-year-old has been boxing for only 21/2 years, but she has a 6-0 record and impressed in the masters event when she won two fights by technical knockout.
Nicholls admitted to going into the event nervous because she did not know anything about her New Zealand and Queensland opponents, but both lasted fewer than three rounds against the Busselton boxer.
“The strategy was to use my jab and feel out the girl I was fighting with, then just feel out her weakness and go for it,” she said.
“That was meant to happen in the second fight.
“It is just that it happened a bit quicker than I thought.”
But sparring against the gym’s amateurs had her well prepared for any challenges.
“After sparring, the boys who are a lot younger than me really helped me prepare,” she said. Nicholls got into the sport after doing a pad session with head coach Pete Stokes and from there her love of it blossomed.
“Somehow it grew into this,” she said.
“I didn’t think that I would end up doing what I have done.
“I just enjoyed boxing and wanted to get fit.
“It (boxing) is the ultimate fitness.
“You are always learning.”
Nicholls now aims to compete in the Pan Pacific Masters Games next November.
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