Mercedas Taaffe strikes gold again

DARWIN masters boxer Mercedas Taaffe made it back-to-back gold medals at the Australian Masters Games in Geelong.

Mercedas Taaffe

DARWIN masters boxer Mercedas Taaffe made it back-to-back gold medals at the Australian Masters Games in Geelong.

In excess of 8000 masters athletes registered for the full range of sports with Taaffe and five other NT fighters among the 140 who entered the boxing competition.

Taaffe was competing at her second Games and followed her gold in the 60kg division last year with another top gong in the 57kg division.

She defeated big hitting Tamara Stewart in the 54kg-57kg final by unanimous points decision.

The Darwin fighter said her weight has trimmed down in recent times and was pleased with her win over a stronger, bigger hitting opponent.

"I've always been at my best at 60kg but as I've got older my diet and exercise regime has matured and I feel comfortable at 57kg," she said.

"My opponent was stronger and a bigger hitter than me so I went into the fight with a plan to keep moving and to out-box her.

"The decision was unanimous and I was happy because the plan worked."

The five other NT fighters were all men and debutant Bradley Kiely, although losing his 35-44 age super-heavyweight fight to a first round TKO, found the experience exhilarating.

"The boxing is improving in quality and quantity but nevertheless all the boys did well," Taaffe said.

"Brad was having his very first fight and although beaten, his comment after the fight left us all in no doubt he wants more and is already in training for next year.

"Middleweight, Michael Rochford's fight was full of merit and he lost in the semis to the eventual winner in the 35-44 age group."

Each member of the team is now looking forward to the next Australian Masters and the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast next year.