Va’a boys keen to keep it in the family

TOOWOOMBA brothers set for shot at Australian boxing titles.

TGW & Smithy's Gym boxing brothers De La Salle (left) and Xavier Va'a fight for gold this weekend at the open class Australian titles.

BOXING: The Va'a brothers have proven to be unstoppable in their climb up the sporting ladder and this weekend they are out to cap that rise with Australian boxing's biggest prize.

The TGW & Smithy's Gym pair is looking to complete an unusual family celebration when they fight for Australian titles on the Gold Coast.

Fourteen-year-old De La Salle Va'a, who weighs in at 108kg, will contest the schoolboys category against his open company opponent.

Brother Xavier (15 years) at 115kg will fight in the junior championships division.

The Australian championships are the next challenge for the siblings who have both also represented Queensland at rugby league.

The boys are trained by Corban Kanaveilomani and Brendon Smith who said an Australian championship victory would be a just reward for the brothers' hard work and commitment to training.

"They have won everything this year," Smith said.

"They've won the Queensland amateurs and Australian Golden Gloves.

"But this will be the pinnacle for them this weekend, representing Queensland for an Australian title.

"They both go straight into the gold medal bout on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the draw.

"They are on the Gold Coast at the moment in camp with the Queensland team.

"They are both big chances of winning the titles, but they've still got to get the job done against open-class opponents.

"It's a great effort to achieve what they have already, and this would be a great reward for the boys and their family if they can get those Australian titles.

"They've been living in Toowoomba now for around 18 months but before that they used to travel into the gym from Dalby every day to train.

"They have done a lot of travel and have made a lot of sacrifices to get where they are and we'll all be behind them this weekend."