Kovacs twins working hard to stay on top

GETTING to the top of boxing might have been hard enough for Denis and Philip Kovacs but the talented pair of athletes are now faced with another challenge.

ATTILA S FIGHTERS: Denis Kovacs is ready for the weekend tournament. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail. Picture: Mike Knott

GETTING to the top of Australian boxing might have been hard enough for Bundaberg twins Denis and Philip Kovacs but the talented pair of athletes are now faced with another challenge.

They have to maintain the form that forced the national selectors to pick them to compete at the 2015 AIBA Men's Junior World Championships at St Petersburg, Russia, in September.

Between now and when the plane leaves the tarmac bound for Russia the boys will be put through their paces nearly every day by their father and trainer Attila Kovacs.

As the sun rises Philip (75kg) and Denis (80kg) will drag themselves out of bed and run for 10km, before weights and sparring sessions tailored to their individual needs.

Both boxers said the mental resolve they required to be at their best for the world titles was more than the physical toughness, and the long days training took their toll on the mind.

Along with the hard training there is another challenge the twins face.

While they are sweating it out in the little gym at Shalom College each afternoon, their friends are playing various other sports like rugby league and football, things they would like to do but the risk is too high.

For now they will work alone, and with each other, as they get ready to face some of the world's best young fighters on the other side of the world.

Philip and Denis are just six fighters who will wear the green and gold of Australia in Russia, in past years the national team has been made up of 14 boxers but chief selector Kevin Smith wants to take those who have the best chance of victory.

For Bundaberg to produce a third of the national team was a huge honour for the little town, and the city should get behind Denis and Philip as they prepare for their charge at a world title.