Kandos brothers, Kevin and Thomas Large, have won second place at the National Boxing Championships, held in Adelaide, throughout the week of April 3.
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“Both won silver medals, Kevin, the older bloke had a really close fight and I think he was hard done by. It was a hard match,” said the brothers’ trainer and local boxing legend Gary Large.
“Thomas went straight to the final and lost to a Western Australian in a split point decision.”
Thomas, who competed in the U15, 50kg category, and Kevin, who competed in the U17, 80kg category, both train at the Rylstone-Kandos Boxing Club under the tutelage of their uncle, Gary, and father, Chris Large.
The ultimate goal for most boxers is the Olympics. Kevin is looking to complete in the Australian Youth Commonwealth Games this July.
- Gary Large
As some of the best amateur junior boxers in Australia, Gary Large said he expects the boys have big things ahead of them.
“The ultimate goal for most boxers is the Olympics,” Mr Large said.
“Kevin is looking to complete in the Australian Youth Commonwealth Games this July, where the Olympic team is selected from the 17-19 age bracket.”
The Large family runs the boxing club, set up in a catholic school, to provide a recreational space for the residents of Kandos and surrounds.
“We let the boys use the gym five days per week for $5. We also have some pretty full-on women training too.”
By day Gary Large works as a miner at Springvale.
“The satisfaction keeps us going and it keeps the kids off the straight and narrow,” he said.
“A few of them will be ready to tournament shortly, they love to participate and our boys are pretty handy. We’re proud of them.”
Mr Large said it can be hard, however, finding competitive matches for their club to participate in.
”It’s hard to get games for our boys because of the isolation of where we live and it’s really hard to get any matches in NSW.”
He said misconceptions surrounding amateur boxing contribute to the lack of tournaments.
“Professional boxing is a mug’s game. On the amateur side of things, it’s governed so tightly for safety that weight divisions go up in two kilogram categories.
“You never have two kids against each other with more than a three kilogram weight difference, so it really comes down to skill.”
Gary Large’s son, Lachlan, will compete at the Lithgow PCYC’s Boxing Gala event on May 6.
