Weipa’s “Whispering Jack” Barton (second from left) takes time for a photo with opponent Jacob Cavanagh (second from right) after the Cape York boxer lost a split decision in their State of Origin bout in Sydney on Saturday night. Photo: Supplied.
The bouts may have not all gone to script, but three of Weipa’s most promising young boxers did their club proud when they stepped into the ring in Sydney and Mareeba on Saturday night.
Harrison Klein, 17, and Samson Poi Poi, 14, travelled from western Cape York to compete in the 2024 Sunstate Amateur Boxing League in Mareeba, with both fighters hungry for their first wins.
Seventeen-year-old Jack Barton had farther to travel to don the gloves when he represented Queensland in a first-of-its-kind State of Origin event in Sydney.
Poi Poi impressed in his first bout of the night and landed some good right hands and uppercuts, but was unable to topple his more experienced opponent, before notching up his maiden victory when he put on a confident display against a younger boxer to stop him in his tracks at the end of the second round.
Klein was unlucky in his bout against an opponent Cape York Boxing Weipa coach Scott Wallace said “threw everything at Harrison except a baseball bat” and nearly made time before the fight was stopped in the third round.
In Sydney, “Whispering Jack” Barton showed why he is one of the Weipa club’s most exciting talents when he went the distance against Jack Cavanagh in a fight that could have gone either way, only to lose in a close split decision.
Despite the decision going against him, Barton thanked his sponsors and supporters, and said he was now turning his attention to the next month’s Queensland titles.
“I’d like to thank everyone who made the fight possible – the local Weipa businesses, my coach, Scotty Wallace, and Brandon Smith from Smithy’s gym, who answered the call for support and gave me a professional team in my corner.
“It was a great experience with a large crowd; I’m a little disappointed with the loss, but will work on preparing for the state titles coming up.”
Samson Poi Poi and Harrison Klein show off the silverware after their Mareeba bouts on 27 July. Photo: Supplied.
