Pte Daniel Krekos, Spt Coy, defeated Pte Jamie Chambers, A Coy, in the first fight of the night. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham 1JPAU(P)

RESULTS

1. Pte Daniel Krekos (Spt Coy) d Pte Jamie Chambers (A Coy)

2. Pte James Kent (A Coy) Drew Pte Alan Clarke (D Coy)

3. Pte Michael Fortunas (A Coy) def Pte Craig Walker (A Coy)

4. Pte Daniel Matteo (C Coy) def Pte David Palinkas (A Coy) This fight won best fight of the night.

5. Pte Alexis Row (C Coy) def Pte Ross Page (Admin Coy)

6. Pte Lucas Boy'e (Spt Coy) def Pte Nigel Appleby (A Coy)

7. Pte James Prascevic (C Coy) def Cpl Christopher Thomson (Spt Coy)

By Cpl Belinda Mepham
WITH a knockout night of boxing, 1RAR settled its 57th birthday in the ring at the Soldiers Club this month at Lavarack Barracks.

Better than Will Smith in Ali, nine fights gave any boxing enthusiasts a fair swing at the sport.

Co-ordinator for the event, 1RAR C Coy’s CSM, WO2 Steven Boye, said the fighters showed an enormous amount of courage.

“For amateurs the boys really toughened up and were committed to finish their fights,” he said.

“Every fight lasted the three rounds – staying in the ring for that is a win in any case.”

The fight of the night was between Pte David Palinkas from A Coy and Pte Daniel Matteo from C Coy.

WO2 Boye said this fight could have been gone either way.

“At some stages during the fight we could not have predicted which way it would go, the boys jabbed like champions. Pte Matteo won that match but both deserve the mention, they fought with everything they had,” he said.

Referee for the fights was boxing club Bad Boys Promotions’ Chris Condon.

Mr Condon agreed the fights were closely contested all round and for amateurs they fought well and showed significant determination to stay in the fight.

WO2 Boye said the event was held annually as part of 1RAR birthday celebrations.

“This year was very successful – myself and SSgt Les Lindgren planned to give the boys and their friends a show,” he said.

“They went one better and gave us more than just a show, they maintained the excitement all night.”
MCs for the night Sgt Jason Fisher and Cpl Jonathan Hadaway kept the crowd in a stir and entertained the audience between bouts.

Mortar Pl was ambitious in drawing attention from the MCs until halfway into the night when it appeared they had been given the right hook of jest and seemingly decided out-of-sight, out-of- mind was much more tactical.

LBMC provided medical support to fighters and a doctor remained on standby in case of any mishap to competitors.

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