THREE of Launceston’s brightest young boxing talents are preparing to take on the world.
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Tyler Blizzard, 17, and Jack Seabourne, 18, will compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia, Samoa, from September 5-11 around the same time that Jack’s brother Bailey, 16, contests the AIBA junior world championships in St Petersburg, Russia.
All three this week head for a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra before jetting off to their international competitions.
‘‘They both leave the same day but go in different directions,’’ said Jack and Bailey’s father Alan, who has coached both since the age of eight at Launceston Boxing Academy in Bridgenorth.
‘‘It’ll be pretty special for both having been through the sport at state and national level and now reached international competition together.
‘‘My dad was a pro boxer, I had 80 fights, the boys have continued that on and I’m really proud that the hard work they have put in is paying off.’’
St Patrick’s College student and apprentice plumber Blizzard trains with coach Craig Woods at Latrobe Boxing Club and is optimistic about extending its impressive international record.
‘‘There will be a lot of quality boxers and stiff competition from many different countries but I’d like to go with the attitude of trying to bring back a medal, ’’ Blizzard said.
‘‘I’ve never been out of Australia before so I’m a bit nervous but I’m sure it’ll be fun when I get there.’’
Woods coached a Tasmanian team including Blizzard and Bailey Seabourne in a Bass Strait Challenge in Victoria earlier this year and believes both are ready for their challenges.
‘‘Tyler fought a weight division up which is really good experience for him and they both got a lot out of the trip. It was good experience before they go away,’’ he said.
‘‘Bailey will be up against the world’s best and will certainly have his hands full but so will those facing him. He’s very competitive and hard to beat and so is Tyler.’’
The Seabourne brothers have both attended Riverside High School with Jack having since moved to Loxton in South Australia, where he has twice won the state 64-kilogram youth title.
Both have just returned from a competition in New Zealand where Bailey, who is better known as Buzz, beat the national 54kg champion, and Jack stepped up to take on the country’s 69kg champ.
‘‘Buzz has won five of his last six fights after winning 12 straight which is outstanding,’’ Alan said. ‘‘Jack was also on a winning streak of nine before he got beat in New Zealand.
‘‘A lot of people have been really supportive to help them further their boxing careers including the school, Ralph and Gerry Belbin at Boxing Tasmania and Graeme George. We’re all very proud of them and I think both are a really good chance to come back with a medal.’’
Seabourne said both his sons are targeting the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
‘‘Next year they will get to travel more around the world with their boxing. The AIS is getting more committed to young boxers and those Commonwealth Games are their focus if they do well.’’
Boxing Australia head coach Kevin Smith said the Commonwealth Youth Games represent a ‘‘fantastic opportunity’’ to get boxers acclimatised to a multi-sport event.
‘‘There will be some strong competition which we expect to come from England, India, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Canada,’’ he said.
‘‘We are hopeful that this will be an early indication and pathway for the boxers to kick onto a home Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.’’
While Blizzard and Jack Seabourne are in an Australian team of seven selected to compete in Samoa, Bailey is among a record number of 407 15 to 16-year-old boxers registered in 13 weight categories to compete in St Petersburg from September 4-12.