Seventeen-year-old Jack Barton will be representing Queensland and Weipa on Saturday night when he dons the gloves in a special State of Origin bout in Sydney. Photo: Supplied.
Weipa’s status as a force to be reckoned with in the ring will be on display in Sydney and Mareeba on Saturday night as three boxers prepare to do battle 2,500 kilometres apart.
Seventeen-year-old Harrison Klein and 14-year-old Samson Poi Poi will head to Mareeba for the latest round of the 2024 Sunstate Amateur Boxing League competition, with both fighters aiming for a maiden victory.
Cape York Boxing Weipa coach Scott Wallace said he believed both Klein and Poi Poi would impress in the ring.
“They’ve both had two fights and they’re both hungry for a win,” he said.
Rising star Jack Barton, 17, will travel to Sydney to fight in the inaugural State of Origin series at Arena Sports Club and Mr Wallace said the sledging from south of the border in the lead-up to the event had spurred on the Queensland boxers, including Barton.
“Jack’s fighting at 78 [kilograms] and I reckon it’s going to be a great fight,” Mr Wallace said.
“There’s been some big sledging; the promotor does a fantastic job of talking it up big and everyone loves Queensland verses New South Wales.
“It’s great for him to be recognised to be fighting down there, and I think the rematch in Toowoomba later in the year is going to make this series big every year.”
Barton has recently spent a week in Brisbane training for the bout, with particular emphasis on his footwork in the ring, something Mr Wallace said would put him in good stead on 27 July.
“He’s been doing a lot of footwork, and the lad he’s fighting, I don’t think he’s had as many fights, but a lot of those [metropolitan] boxers are doing lots of sparring each week with maybe three quality rounds,” he said.
“Whatever’s thrown at him, I have no doubt Jack will give them what for.”
Barton told Cape York Weekly he was excited about the prospect of stepping into the ring in front of what is tipped to be a big crowd.
“I’m really excited there is an opportunity for me to have a fight in Sydney with a Queensland team,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to representing the Cape York boxing club and I’ll be going there for a win.”
