Golden Gloves boxing dynasty continues
AFTER watching a few YouTube videos and becoming "addicted” last year, Gayndah teenager Tom Capewell, 18, decided to take up boxing.
He went to the gym most days and began travelling twice a week to Bundaberg to train with Attila Kovacs at his Academy, where he was taught to use his long arms to keep distance between he and his opponent.
The dedication paid off for Capewell last weekend, as he claimed the Queensland Golden Gloves title in the 75kg Novice division, winning, unbelievably, his first two ever competition fights, at the Acacia Ridge Hotel in Brisbane.
He came home with an unblemished face, sign of how far he has progressed in a short period of time.
"Both fights went the distance,” Capewell said.
"The first was a really short opponent, I've never really sparred with someone so short.
"It was a hard fight, I really had to dig.”
By contrast, his second fight, the one in which he claimed the Gloves, was "pretty cruisey”, Capewell said.
He knocked his opponent down in the first round and was awarded a points victory.
One wonders, however, how it took Capewell so long to find boxing: the Capewell family has a rich history in the sport.
In fact, Capewell is the fourth generation of fighter in the family to claim a Queensland title.
Dad Mark won the Gloves in Mackay in 2000 in the Heavyweight division, grandfather Phil won the Gloves in Brisbane two years in a row in the Light Middleweight division, 1953-54, and his great-grandfather William Henry also won a Queensland boxing title, although the family has been unable to locate dates for this victory.
"It's good to keep the tradition going,” Capewell said.
"It was a special moment.”
Capewell shared it with his entire family, including uncles who travelled from Toowoomba.
He said the loudest voice on the sideline was Mark's, who he remembered was "screaming”.
Capewell said the victory has driven him to double down in his efforts, promising he will "train even harder” after his first intoxicating taste of success.
"Boxing is my one interest,” he joked.
