HOBART boxer Luke Jackson is one step closer to making the Olympic team after qualifying for the second round of the Australian amateur boxing championships in Hobart yesterday.
Jackson was the only Tasmania to progress to the second round of the titles during yesterday's competition.
The two-time Commonwealth Games representative defeated Queensland's James Kapp, 12-6, in the 60-kilogram division.
Boxing Tasmania president David Collins said Jackson won convincingly using his experience, strength and fitness.
``He's got a very good chance of making the Olympic team,'' Collins said.
``He's got the maturity and experience and all the other Australian team members look up to him.''
Latrobe's Dylan Hardy was defeated 13-12, by Victoria's Anthony Buttergig on Wednesday night, in a bout that Tasmanian state manager Craig Tobler said could have gone either way.
``It was an extremely close fight,'' he said.
Bridgewater's Jordan Percey was defeated 10-6 by New South Wales boxer Matthew Larg, while teammate Jackson Eirth was defeated by James Lynch.
In the schoolboys, Tasmania's Dylan Cochrane went down to WA's Cody Haddon.
Latrobe boxer Jackson Woods is the only other Tasmanian to qualify for the second round.
The championships finish on Sunday.
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