Iga Ratynska and Ahmet Avci up for Victorian boxing championship
An old-school boxing gym staffed completely with volunteers will set out to prove they are the best money can’t buy when two of their fighters contend for a state title. And history says they’re more than a puncher’s chance.
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A volunteer-run boxing gym will be out to prove they can mix it with the big time when their fighters go for a Victorian title on Sunday.
Northside Boxing fighter Ahmet Avci will contend for the intermediate Victorian title on Sunday with an 8-2 record.
Boxer Iga Ratynska will fight for the novice Victorian title.
Avci won the novice title in 2017.
The Townhall Ave, Preston gym is staffed entirely with volunteers and trainers work with whoever walks in the door.
“They’re doing it because they love the sport. It’s pretty amazing,” Avci said.
Avci said he was inspired to join the team after seeing how they helped his brother, and the training helped him work through his own depression and anxiety.
“I got into it thinking I wanted one fight,” he said.
“You get used to seeing the progress and fall in love with yourself getting better.”
“Ten fights later, here I am.”
Northside Boxing trainer Tas Topalidis said volunteering was his way of repaying the gym and the community for what they’d given him.
The gym works closely with children who have experienced difficulties or hardship.
“Helping young children through difficult, broken homes is something big there,” Mr Topalidis said.
Mr Avci visits the gym up to six times a week for skills and conditioning training and does his own high intensity cardio every second day.
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The 27-year-old said while his own fighting career was in its twilight, he would stick around the gym and pass on his knowledge to the younger fighters.
“I like being in the gym and helping out,” Mr Avci said.
“I really want to see the younger people in the gym go and have some more fights.”
The Construction and Firefighters and Maritime Unions Cup is at the Whitehorse Function Centre at noon on Sunday.