History in the ring from 1991 hopes to repeat itself here in Tauranga next week as the Boxing New Zealand National Championships get underway.

It was this time 32 years ago that the championship was last held in the city – for the first and only time.

Claiming the national title at age 17 in 1991 was Tauranga Boxing Academy coach and Central North Island Boxing Association vice president Michael Owen.

Now – more than 30 years later – the 111th Boxing NZ National Championships in Tauranga will be an opportunity for Michael's own boxers to take the national title too. 'It's nice nostalgic-wise – particularly if one of my three boys can win a NZ title this time round in Tauranga as well. That would be pretty cool.”

The championship is being hosted by the CNI Boxing Association and staged at Tauranga Boys' College from July 5-8 – with Aotearoa's best boxers aged 12-17 to jump in the ring and try to punch their way to the top!

Boxers buzzing

Michael says the boxing community here are 'absolutely buzzing” to see the championships held locally again. Speaking of his own three boxers who will take to the ring, Michael says: 'None of them were alive when the last champs were here...to have it in their home town – they're just buzzing”. 'It's your pinnacle tournament for boxers...that standard of tournament gives us an opportunity to showcase our sport with the view of dispelling any myths boxing has.”

Michael says the art of boxing is very technical and skilful.

'Not everyone is there to knock people out.”

In for the win

Among Michael's boxers competing is 17-year-old Cyrus Dohnt, who says he's been training more hours than he can count.

'It's a commitment.

'Work, come home, chill for a bit and then boxing, gym. So it takes up half the day really, each day of the week.” With eight fight wins under his belt, Cyrus hopes to follow in his coach's gloves next week. 'My coach fought that [national champs] and won the title 32 years ago,” says Cyrus. 'I'm in it to win it.

'It's been my goal since the start of the year.”

Michael says there will be NZ and Commonwealth Games representatives stage-side, scouting the talent. 'Boxers this year are vying for the Olympic spots, so the quality of boxing that's going to be on display is going to be absolutely outstanding.”

Cyrus is looking forward to putting on a show for his friends and family. 'I've just put everything into it this year and yeah, no excuses really...I'm just excited to see what I can do.”