IT'S been a frustrating 14 months for Taree PCYC boxer Rohnan Hodgins.
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The 15-year-old 54kg pugilist has been training up to three days a week. Sparring, sparring and more sparring under the watchful eye of trainer Gary Crawford.
However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, he hasn't yet had an official bout with the PCYC boxing program largely put on hold.
"It's been tough on Rohnan and all our boxers,'' coach Crawford said.
"They want to get into the ring and fight.''
All that will end on Friday when Rohnan heads to Doyalson RSL for the State novice championships. Rohnan will be entered in the 0-3 fight category.
"It's going to be a bit tricky,'' Crawford mused.
"Because of COVID, we haven't been able to fight. But Rohnan's been doing a lot of heavy sparring, he'll be ready. He's keen - his parents bring him in from Tuncurry to train and he doesn't miss a session.''
However, Crawford concedes his charge will lack of bit of ring craft and added it's hard to run a rule through the other contenders in the division for the same reason.
"No-one's been having official bouts. So we don't really know what we're up against,'' he said.
"But I'm expecting Rohnan to go really well, he's special. Then again, other trainers will probably think the same thing about their boxers. It will be good experience for him, no matter what.''
As befitting a boxing championship, it's a knockout. There's no second prizes.
"If he's beaten he's out,'' Crawford said.
"But hopefully he'll keep going through the preliminaries and get to the final on the Sunday.''
Rohnan is one of 12 boxers in Crawford's elite troupe at the PCYC.
They train up to three nights a week at the centre.
After this weekend's novice championships at Doyalson Crawford hopes to get Rohnan and a couple of his fellow Taree fighters a match at a promotion in Windsor.
Then if all goes to plan they'll be heading to the Golden Gloves to be held in Queensland in August.
He said boxing at the PCYC is 'blooming' and credits the input from centre manager Justin Hayes for the resurgence.
"Justin's put the time in and we're reaping the benefits,'' Crawford explained.
However, there are no bouts available on the Mid North Coast, meaning his boxers will have to travel to get a fight.
"We're lucky to have great sponsors in MRD Electrical, Lincoln Brickworks, Wingham Eyecare, M&J Accounting and Ironwood Sawmill to help us with the accommodation costs,'' Crawford said.